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Latin is a completely different style of jazz that has a unique type of beat and calls for many new and exotic instruments, particularly in the rhythm (percussion) section. In the early 1930s, an influx of Latino immigrants moved into the United States. The greats of the bebop era, such as Dizzy Gillespie, became excited about the Latin dance music that they heard in some New York clubs. But people had long since begun to enjoy the themes of Latin jazz. Beginning with Jelly Roll Morton in the 1920s, musicians started to incorporate Latin rhythms in their music. Swing musicians often played types of rhumbas and congas because they were fun to play and to dance to. In 1940, the first band to mix jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms was Machito and the Afro-Cubans, which included Tito Puente. After hearing this band perform, Dizzy Gillespie hired a Latino drummer. Latin jazz has been extremely popular ever since.
Notable Musicians:
Jelly Roll Morton was a pianist popular in the 1920s. He was one of the first jazz musicians to add a Latin feel to his music.
Tito Puente was a Latin jazz percussionist who set the standard for Latin percussionists forever. He won four Grammys and dabbled in the rock genre. Latino guitarist Carlos Santana recorded two of Puente’s charts. Puente also worked with Buddy Morrow, Gloria Estefan, andWoody Herman. Puente grew up in East Harlem, joined the Army, and later studied at Julliard.
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