One of the contributions 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.
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. - Text from: Wikipedia-Latin Jazz
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. - Text from: Wikipedia-Latin Jazz
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. - Text from: Wikipedia-Latin Jazz
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.
There are also other Puerto Rican musicians such as Papo Vazquez
considered one of the pioneers of Afro Puerto Rican Jazz along with
Cortijo, Edgardo Miranda, David Sanchez and others. Please update this
info it will be much appreciated. - Text from: Wikipedia-Latin Jazz
Note: Descriptions and definitions provided on this page are taken from
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