What is Latin Jazz?
(the short answer)
by Bobby Ramirez

"Latin Jazz is a classic American artform..." John Santos

Latin Jazz is a fusion of African and/or indigenous rhythms from the entire Latin American Diaspora with the language of Jazz.

First known as Cubop, then Afro-Cuban Jazz, it was created in New York City, emerging as part of a massive socio-cultural revolution in the 1930's & 40's transcending racial lines between black, white and Latino musicians, explored in its infancy by visionary musicians like Alberto Socarras, Ernesto Lecuona, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Mario Bauza, Machito & his Afro-Cubans, Juan Tizol, Noro Morales, Tito Puente, Chano Pozo, Stan Kenton, Chico O'Farrill and many others.

It is important to note that until recently, the main essential rhythmic ingredients that have propelled Latin Jazz as it has come to be known through countless recordings in the United States have been derived from Cuba in the form of the rumba, cha cha cha, songo, bolero, guaracha, son montuno (otherwise popularized by generic umbrella terms such as mambo and salsa)--including major rhythmic contributions from Brazil (samba, bosa nova).

There are various characteristics that can define Latin Jazz ranging from the avant garde (Emiliano Salvador, Hermeto Pascual, etc.) to more popular forms (Poncho Sanchez, Tito Puente, etc.). Note: popular forms" in Latin Jazz may suggest a music which is specifically engineered to appeal to a wider popular Latin dance audience; yet, retaining some characteristics mentioned in the following sentence. In comparison to your average popular tune which contains a simple melody, simple chord progression and almost no improvisation, Latin Jazz is mainly instrumental hybrid music defined by more progressive Jazz harmonies used in and around its corresponding rhythmic structural arrangement, combined with an exuberant amount of improvisation, and fused with African based rhythms that continue to develop from the entire Latin American Diaspora.

To further clarify the inherent characteristics of Latin Jazz, lets also examine what is NOT Latin Jazz; or better said: some common characteristics that misrepresent the style of Latin Jazz. Brazilian "popular music" containing samba and/or bossa nova rhythm, as well as what is considered "Cuban popular music" otherwise known as "salsa" or tropical dance music is often erroneously mistaken for Latin Jazz.

This misrepresentation of the style of Latin Jazz is helping to further promote confusion among the real diehard fans of this music, as well as hurting artists who have committed years perfecting his or her craft of incorporating Latin rhythms with the language of Jazz improvisation.

To recap on the characteristics of Latin Jazz:

1) mainly instrumental hybrid music
2) contains progressive Jazz harmonies used in and around its corresponding rhythmic structural arrangement
3) contains African based rhythms that continue to develop from the entire Latin American Diaspora
4) allows for the execution of much improvisation using the Jazz vocabulary within the framework and construct of each arrangement

The term Latin Jazz is not to be considered a category, unless it is specifically used as part of a format to emphasize organization and/or direction; likeas part of a row of general music categories from an awards event like the Grammy Music Awards; or to focus direction in a music recording store.

Musically speaking, Latin Jazz is a very specific STYLE of music with its own nuances and anamolies that revolves around "Latin" rhythm. It is simply not enough for any musician to surround his or herself with a Latin rhythm section and think they're performing "Latin Jazz." Just as how Jazz has to swing with the emphasis on the 2 and 4 beat, Latin Jazz swings when a musician understands the Latin rhythmic structure that is part of a particular tune. If the Latin rhythm is Afro-Cuban or Brazilian based, how a musician performs in and around the clave is essential to the authenticity of the style of Latin Jazz.

Other forms of Latin rhythms may or may not contain clave. Still, the musical interpretation that is applied in connection with that specific Latin rhythm is an important factor in performing authentic Latin Jazz. A very important factor from an educational viewpoint: since Latin Jazz borrows harmonic elements from Jazz, and rhythmic elements from popular Latin music, in order to deliver a truely authentic performance style of Latin Jazz, it is required that a musician spend much time learning the harmonic concept of Jazz improvisation in its traditional form, as well as indepth study of traditional Latin popular rhythm. Thus, gaining a full graps on the mechanics and pulse of a particular popular Latin rhythm (salsa, pop Brazilian music, merengue, cha cha, danzon, cumbia, canbombe, joropo, etc). Then (only then), attemp to connect the Jazz harmonic concept with Latin rhythm. Otherwise, just like when a music can't swing Jazz, the performance will sound forced and mechanical, unfocus, mutchy and incoherent--simply, not authentically Latin Jazz.

Also very important: a musician that performs "Latin jazz" should not be referred to as a "Latin Jazz musician." The music in itself known as Latin Jazz is a style, a musical form of language, a unique genre extending of Jazz. Musicians who perform Latin Jazz should simply be regarded as "Jazz" musician or as a "musician" that chose to perform that style of music. Or worst, just because a musician is from a Latin country, it is erroneous to refer to that musician as a "Latin Jazz musicians."

Today, Latin Jazz has evolved considerably into a more progressive amalgamation of the language of Jazz with rhythms not only from Cuba and Brazil, but expanding rhythmic influences from other perhaps less notable yet equally important countries that are part of the entire Latin American Diaspora. As Latin Jazz continues to expand, it remains free, open and inclusive to countless yet to be discovered Latin rhythmic possibilities that will no doubt empower creativity from current and future generations of musicians that will ultimately take the genre of Latin Jazz to greater heights.

"Latin Jazz is an indelible part of the history and evolution of "Jazz" in the United States of America." br