Latin Jazz Essentials
PLAYLIST ∙ 2019
Originating from the Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian diaspora in the early 19th Century, Latin jazz is an intricate musical melting pot of spicy grooves and unpredictable melodies that encompass a wide range of sonic structures. Often credited as Afro-Cuban jazz’s inventor, bandleader Mario Bauzá unleashed a wildly experimental frenzy in his upbeat ‘40s anthem “Tanga.” By the ‘50s, stars like Machito and Mongo Santamaria helped internationalize the genre further, taking it to New York and London’s hottest nightclubs, as did Brazil’s Antônio Carlos Jobim with his breezy yet exhilarating samba grooves. By the ‘60s and ‘70s, New York salsa label Fania Records housed the next generation of Latin jazz trail-blazers, like Tito Puente, Willie Colón, and Ruben Blades, who perfected the art of cinematic storytelling. Newer players like Mexican conguero Poncho Sanchez continue to uphold the traditions of the exploratory art form through his wild and riveting percussions. Wherever the style touched down throughout the Americas and beyond, Latin jazz will always continue to be free from form or any restriction.
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