Poncho Sanchez - “Co Co My My” Fiesta Picante: The Latin Jazz Party Collection Song released in 1988. Compilation released in 1997. Latin Jazz / Salsa
Poncho Sanchez is one of the greatest congueros (conga players) the world has ever known. Born in Laredo, Texas, he moved to Norwalk, Calfiornia, a suburb of Los Angeles at a young age, where he was exposed to a wide variety of music including Afro-Cuban jazz, American jazz, and funk and soul. Sanchez taught himself a handful of instruments and as a teenager decided to strictly pursue the congas.
Although Los Angeles-based Latin jazz wasn’t considered to be significant on a national scale in the 70s, it did have a vibrant scene. In 1975, while Sanchez was making his way through the city’s club circuit, Tjader invited him to come perform a gig as a member of his band. In 1980, west coast jazz’s premier label, Concord, launched a Latin jazz sublabel, Concord Picante, and made Tjader one of its biggest signings. Up until Tjader’s death in 1982, Sanchez played an important role as conguero on Tjader’s recordings and in his performances.
Before Tjader’s passing, he put in a good word with Concord owner and founder Carl Jefferson to sign Poncho Sanchez as a bandleader. And so, for nearly 30 years and almost his entire career, Sanchez recorded for Concord and its Picante sublabel. 1988 saw the release of Sanchez’s seventh album and his fifth for Concord, ¡Fuerte!, which features “Co Co My My”
Derived from Conjunto Africa’s 1974 song “Coco May May,” Poncho Sanchez’s version is completely different. The only similarity seems to be the common refrain, which is the song’s title. With a Latin jazz piano rhythm provided by Charlie Otwell and a bass rhythm from Tony Banda, “Co Co My My” begins as a conventional Latin jazz song with lively horns, switching between vocal sections and brief instrumental spots. Sanchez’s congas appear throughout, but he really makes his presence known in the final segment of the song. Following a high-pitched, bleating and blaring trumpet solo from Sal Caracchiolo, Sanchez launches into an extensive and free conga solo that hits its stride at the 4:18
Fantastic late 80s Latin jazz that’s great for partying with a remarkable solo from Sanchez at the end.
