Watermelon Man (Mongo Santamaría)

Mongo Santamaría · 1962 · cover of Herbie Hancock's theme

Context

Recorded on December 17, 1962, the Cuban conga player's version of Herbie Hancock's tune reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1963. Released as a single on Battle and then on the album Watermelon Man! (1963), it entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and is sometimes seen as the birth certificate of boogaloo.

In the genealogy of jazz

This track belongs to Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, Soul jazz, boogaloo. Among the origins and influences of Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban: Afro-diasporic roots, Bebop (Minton's, Monroe's).

By the same artist

• Afro Blue (1959)

Sources

• EN: Watermelon Man (composition)

Jazzency text written from these pages. Method and licenses