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Latin Jazz Now® and Then Fall 2021 Syllabus
“Latin Jazz Now® and Then” is a once a week for eight weeks introductory course that briefly explores the genre of Latin Jazz.
WEEK I INTRODUCTION / OVERVIEW
What is Latin Jazz?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_jazz
Introduction to key concepts, vocabulary, instrument sounds,
and names of both mainstream jazz and Latin music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstream_jazz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_music
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WEEK II Founders—Mambo I: MACHITO and his Afro Cubans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machito
The 1940s sound of the pioneering band of Cuban bandleader Machito.
We’ll introduce Graciela, Chico O’Farrill and Mario Bauza as pivotal figures.
WEEK III Founders—Mambo II: Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chano_Pozo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizzy_Gillespie
The 1947 meeting of Cuban percussionist and singer Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie anchored the fusion as a
new discipline with methodologies and stars all its own
WEEK IV The mainstreaming of Latin Jazz: Tito Puente, Cal Tjader and the Sixties
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Puente
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Tjader
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We’ll examine the growth of a new generation of stars,
including nonāLatino players like vibraphonist Cal Tjader and nonājazzers like
Desi Arnaz, even Chick Corea and his early circle of associates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desi_Arnaz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Corea
WEEK V The Salsa Tsunami: Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Rubén Blades, Fania All Stars
The vocal breakthroughs of the Sixties made for a highāintensity and today’s highly popular genre called
“Salsa”. We’ll examine what is (the different styles), and isn’t different about Salsa (i.e., what is consistent
across different styles).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celia_Cruz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Lavoe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Blades
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fania_AllāStars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5LAEYGuERo
WEEK VI Irakere’s unique hard style of Latin Fusion, and the Mariel arrivals
A new wave of artists from Cuba emigrated to New York in the mid 1950s, but in 1980,
a massive boatlift out of Miami rescued thousands of people escaping the Cuban dictatorship.
Among them arrived hundreds of the most talented musicians committed to reāenergizing
the hard edge of Latin Jazz in the U.S.; this new “Salsa on Steroids” style is known today as “Timba”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timba
WEEK VII Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band: the birth of the modern sound
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Gonzalez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Gonzalez
We’ll follow the trail of the Gonzalez brothers as pivotal to a Latin jazz Jam band that alloyed several of the
forces at work in the New York Latin Jazz scene since the late 1970s.
We’ll also touch on the Hilton Ruiz influence and tragedy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilton_Ruiz
https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Hilton+Ruiz+tragedy&oq=The+Hilton+Ruiz+tragedy
Here’s Jerry on Congas and Flugelhorn in a long forgotten performance somewhere
in NYC before his tragic passing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=homMZ6SGqXY
WEEK VIII Latin Jazz Now®: Who’s hot in 2021
Rebeca Mauleon, Jane Bunnett, Eddie Palmieri, Bobby Sanabria, Conrad Herwig,
Elio Villafranca, Danilo Perez, Ray Barretto, and other modern notables
https://www.google.com/search?q=greatest+Latin+Jazz+musicians+of+all+time
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“Calle 54” an AfroāCuban Latin Jazz film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calle_54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qw25NcW5ps
The Arturo Sandoval Story: Played by Andy Garcia as Arturo Sandoval
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2LQkvI4Zk
FURTHER LEARNING:
On the web
Rebeca Mauleon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmSR2CCqXb4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dafWseVsJCY
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Understanding Salsa rhythm for absolute beginners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HV81qc00bI&ab_channel=SalsaLessonsNewarkNJ
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Pacific Mambo Orchestra on Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L07Vp2crq_o
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Lucy Grau’s Band on Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPldwI8Qmj0
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Tony Succar on Herbie Hancock’s “The Eye of the Hurricane”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34FENVoIuK4
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Bill O’Connell on a Latin Jazz and Hard Bop fusion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNMdcZ8qdāQ
To read
Max Salazar Mambo Kingdom
Leonardo Acosta Cubano Be, Cubano Bop
Vernon W. Boggs Salsiology
John Storm Roberts The Latin Tinge
Celia Cruz Ceila: My Life
There’s a ton more information, music, and performances out on the net. Please feel free to contact:
Jim Benitez jim@wicn.org and as always, tune in on Friday nights on wicn.org
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