Latin jazz

Latin Jazz
Stylistic origins	Jazz, Cuban music, Brazilian music, Puerto Rican music, Latin music
Cultural origins	1940's New York
Typical instruments	PianoTemplate:·wrap Bass guitarTemplate:·wrap GuitarTemplate:·wrap CongaTemplate:·wrap TimbaleTemplate:·wrap SaxophoneTemplate:·wrap TrumpetTemplate:·wrap TromboneTemplate:·wrap FluteTemplate:·wrap VibraphoneTemplate:·wrap BongoTemplate:·wrap VocalsTemplate:·wrap GüiroTemplate:·wrap Maracas

Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.

The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:

1. Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova
2. Afro-Cuban jazz is a fusion between Cuban music and American jazz
3. Puerto Rican jazz is a concept made by William Cepeda that celebrates Puerto Rico's heritage and african roots with a new shade of jazz and hip flavor

History

Dizzy Gillespie was one of the early influences of Afro-Cuban latin jazz

One of the contribution of Latins (Latinos in Spanish) to America, Latin jazz gained popularity in the late 1940s. Arguably the first Latin-influenced jazz song is Caravan, written by Juan Tizol and first performed in 1936.

Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton began to combine the rhythm section and structure of Afro-Cuban music, exemplified by Machito and His Afro-Cubans, whose musical director Mario Bauza created the first Latin jazz composition "Tanga" on May 31, 1943, with jazz instruments and solo improvisational ideas. "Tanga" was the first jazz composition based on the clave rhythm. Bauza developed the 3-2/2-3 clave terminology and concept, which is a staple of contemporary Latin jazz and salsa music.

On March 31, 1946, Stan Kenton recorded "Machito", written by his collaborator / arranger Pete Rugolo, which is considered by many to be the first Latin jazz recording by American jazz musicians. The Kenton band was augmented by Ivan Lopez on bongos and Eugenio Reyes on maracas. Later, on December 6 of the same year, Stan Kenton recorded an arrangement of the Afro-Cuban tune The Peanut Vendor with members of Machito's rhythm section.

In September 1947, Dizzy Gillespie collaborated with Machito conga player Chano Pozo to perform the "Afro-Cuban Drums Suite" at Carnegie Hall. This was the first concert to feature an American band playing Afro-Cuban jazz and Pozo remained in Gillespie's orchestra to produce "Cubana Be, Cubana Bop" among others.

Differences with traditional jazz

In comparison with traditional jazz, Latin jazz employs straight rhythm, rather than swung rhythm. Latin jazz rarely employs a backbeat, using a form of the clave instead. The conga, timbale, güiro, and claves are percussion instruments which often contribute to a "Latin" sound.

Sub-types of Latin jazz

Samba originated from nineteenth century Afro-Brazilian music such as the Lundu. It employs a modified form of the clave. Bossa Nova is a hybrid form based on the samba rhythm, but influenced by European and American music from Debussy to US jazz. Bossa Nova originated in the 1950s, largely from the efforts of Brazilians Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto, and American Stan Getz. Its most famous song is arguably The Girl from Ipanema sung by Gilberto and his wife, Astrud Gilberto.

Playing style

Latin jazz music, like most types of jazz music, can be played in small or large groups. Small groups, or combos, often use the bebop format made popular in the 1950s in America, where the musicians play a standard melody, many of the musicians play an improvised solo, and then everyone plays the melody again. In Latin jazz bands, percussion often takes a center stage during a solo, and a conga or timbale can add a melodic line to any performance.

Afro-Rican jazz

Afro-Rican jazz is an original concept developed by trombonist, composer/ arranger William Cepeda that celebrates the heritage of Puerto Rican music and its African roots while creating a new shade of jazz with a hip flavor. Steeped in the jazz tradition (having studied and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, David Murray and Donald Byrd among others), Cepeda developed this unique artistic expression by incorporating a contemporary jazz perspective with the musical and cultural traditions of his homeland, Puerto Rico.

External links

Latin Jazz on Film/Video/DVD

• "Calle 54" - Fernando Trueba's Latin Jazz Movie

Latin Jazz websites/blogs

• LatinJazzClub Magazine"
• Celebrating the Masters of Latin Jazz"
• Chip Boaz' "The Latin Jazz Corner"
• Love Kiss Music Label
• Chicano roots latin jazz fusion

Latin Jazz radio programs

• Latin Jazz Online Radio
• "The Latin Jazz Show" with Chuy Varela - KCSM 91.1 FM - San Mateo, CA
• "Lunchtime @ the Oasis" with Arturo Gomez-Cruz - KUVO 89.3 FM - Denver, CO
• "Con Sabor" with Luis Medina - KPFA 94.1FM - Berekely, CA
• "Con Clave" with Chata Gutierrez - KPOO 89.5FM - San Francisco, CA
• "Canto Tropical" with Héctor "La Voz" Resendez - KPFK 90.7 FM - Los Angeles, CA
• "Latin/Jazz Mecca" with C'Tone - Ozcat Radio 89.5FM - Vallejo, CA
• "Jazz on the Latin Side" with Jose Rizo - KJAZ 88.1FM - Long Beach, CA
• "Alma Caribeña" with Lady DJ Margarita - KBBF 89.1 FM - Santa Rosa, CA
• "Ritmo Con Ache" with Nancy Rodriguez - WBAI 99.5 FM - New York City, NY
• "Al Lado Latino" with 'JC' Johnny Conga - KBCS 91.3 FM - Seattle, WA
• "Azucar y Candela" with Santa Salsera - WXDU 88.7 FM - Durham, NC
• "Latin Jazz Cruise" with Awilda Rivera - WBGO 88.3 FM - Newark, NJ
• "The Latin Jazz Beat" with Jim Benitez - WICN 90.5 FM - Worcester, MA
• "Latin Jazz Brunch" with Henry Brun - KRTU 91.7 FM - San Antonio, TX
• "Raices" with Louis Head - KUNM 89.9 - Albuquerque, NM
• "La Musica Brava" & "The Latin Quarter" - WDNA 88.9 FM - Miami, FL
• "WMNF/Latin Jazz & Salsa" with Luis "Speedy" Gonzalez - WMNF 88.5 FM - Tampa, FL
• "Latin Aura" with Tomas Algarín - WCLK 91.9 FM - Atlanta, GA
• "Latin Perspective" with Tony V - WRUW 91.1 FM - Cleveland, OH
• "Onda Suave" with Ernesto Portillo Jr. - KXCI, 91.3-FM - Tucson, AZ
• "Salsa Caliente" - KTEP 88.5 FM - El Paso, TX
• "Jazz Y Clave" with Mike Villafane - WJYC Whiting, NJ
• "El Viaje" with David Ortiz - WRTI 90.1 FM - Philadelphia, PA
• "Tiene Sabor" with Yolanda Estrada - WWOZ 90.7 FM - New Orleans, LA
• "Mambo Express" with Victor Parra - WDCB 90.9 FM - Chicago,IL
• "Tiempo Latino" with Danny VillaBlanca - WMUH 91.7 FM - Allentown, Pennsylvania
• More US and International Latin Jazz radio listings at: http://www.vinilemania.net/latinjazzradio.htm
• "Latin Soul" with David Hervás - KETR 88.9 FM - Commerce, TX

References

Peñalosa, David (2009). The Clave Matrix; Afro-Cuban Rhythm: Its Principles and African Origins. Redway, CA: Bembe Inc. ISBN 1-886502-80-3.

• Mauleón, Rebeca (1993). Salsa Guidebook for Piano and Ensemble. Petaluma, California: Sher Music. ISBN 0-9614701-9-4.
• Acosta, Leonardo (2003) One Hundred Years of Jazz in Cuba. Washington DC: Smithsonian Books.
• Roberts, John Storm (1999) Latin Jazz. New York: Schirmer Books.
• Delannoy, Luc (2001) Caliente, una historia del Jazz Latino. Mexico: FCE.
• Delannoy, Luc (2005) Carambola, vidas en el Jazz Latino. Mexico: FCE.
• Campos Fonseca, Susan.  “¿Una habitación propia en el “Jazz Latino”?”. En: IASPM@Journal, Vol. 1, Nº2 (2010).