Afro-Cuban Jazz

Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Poncho Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria. All had/have stellar careers in this genre.

For reading about the greats, I would recommend "From Afro-Cuban Rhythms to Latin Jazz" by Raul Fernandez. He curated the Smthsonian exhibit on Latin Jazz.

Digging way back, look up the group Osibisa, they were an outstanding but little known band from the mid 70s...

http://www.osibisa.co.uk/osibisa.html

-RW-

Phil Manzanera-801 Latino.....Roxy Music's guitarist extraordinaire returns to his homeland and records with a cuban 801 band, and literally makes one of the great jazz/rock records of all time....overlooked, and out of print, cd's can be found on ebay and amazon used....'an essential'.

Hi. Anything by Mario Bauza, Chano Pozo and Chico O'farril, they were pioneers in Cuba and here. A short list of recordings that I think will give you an idea of the different faces and influences of afro-cuban music on Jazz.

Chano Pozo: "El Tambor de Cuba" (it has a very informative booklet)
Mario Bauza: "Tanga", "My Time is Now"
Chico O'Farril: "Carambola" "Heart of a Legend"
Cal Tjader: "La Onda Va Bien"
Chucho Valdes: "Live at the Village Vanguard", "Bele, Bele en la Habana"
Bebo Valdes: "El Arte del Sabor", "Bebo de Cuba"
Frank Emilio Flynn: "Algo Bueno"
Mongo Santamaria: "Sofrito", "Mambo Mongo"
Paquito D'Rivera: "Portrait of Cuba" "Habanera"
Poncho Sanchez: "Bien Sabroso", "Conga Blue"
Michel Camilo:"Rendezvous"
Arturo Sandoval: "The Latin Train", "Danzon(Dance on)"

There is a good compilation titled "The Roots of Afro-Cuban Jazz"

There are three books that I would add to the one that R1X1 mentioned:

"Cubano Be Cubano Bop" by Leonardo Acosta
"Music in Cuba" by Alejo Carpentier
"Cuba and Its Music" Ned Sublette (an amazing read)

Hope it helps. Take care

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