Palo Congo

Palo Congo is the debut album by conguero Sabú Martínez, recorded on April 27, 1957 and released on Blue Note later that year. The octet features Arsenio Rodríguez, his brothers Raúl and "Quique"—alongside Ray "Mosquito" Romero—on congas, bassist Evaristo Baró, and vocalists Willie Capó and Sarah Baró.^[1]

Palo Congo
Studio album by Sabu
Released	October 1957
Recorded	April 27, 1957
Studio	Manhattan Towers, NYC
Genre	Cuban rumba
Length	40:51
Label	Blue Note BLP 1561
Producer	Alfred Lion
Sabú Martínez chronology
Palo Congo (1957) Safari with Sabu (1958)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

It was listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[3]

Track listing

Side 1

No.	Title	Length
1.	"El cumbanchero"	5:40
2.	"Billumba-Palo Congo"	6:09
3.	"Choferito-Plena"	4:05
4.	"Asabache"	4:25

Side 2

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Simba"	5:58
2.	"Rhapsodia del Maravilloso"	4:42
3.	"Aggo Elegua"	4:32
4.	"Tribilín cantore"	5:20

Personnel

Musicians

• Louis "Sabú" Martínez – congas, bongos, vocals
• Arsenio Rodríguez – congas, tres, guitar, vocals
• Raúl "Caesar" Travieso – congas, vocals
• Israel Moisés "Quique" Travieso – congas
• Ray "Mosquito" Romero – congas
• Evaristo Baró – bass
• Willie Capó – vocals
• Sarah Baró – vocals

Technical personnel

• Alfred Lion – producer (uncredited)
• Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer, mastering
• Reid Miles – design
• Francis Wolff – photography
• Hsio-yen Shih – liner notes