Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Explained

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This Jazz Piano Tutorial is about Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz.
Latin Jazz, as the name implies, is Jazz that uses rhythms derived from Latin American music. There are two main categories of Latin Jazz:
- Afro-Cuban Jazz - based on Cuban music with genres like mambo, cha-cha and salsa & popular in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s (sometimes referred to as Cubop)
- Afro-Brazilian Jazz - based on Brazilian music with genres like the bossa-nova and samba & popular in the 1960’s.
In Afro-Cuban Jazz, every instrument is allocated a particular rhythm which they music play throughout the entire song, with little to no variation. All these different rhythms then mesh and combine together to create an Afro-Cuban feel or groove. And the most important of these rhythms is the clave rhythm.
If you enjoyed this Jazz Piano Tutorial on Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz, please subscribe.

[@Symphonicrockfran]

Thanks. You're writing the Jazz Bible, I'm learning a lot with your videos.

[@moedemama]

indeed, invaluable stuff

[@raulblancomusiceducation4806]

Thanks a lot for helping spread the music from my country Cuba 🇨🇺. There are some concepts on this video that are a little bit old. The way we play Latin Jazz has evolved a lot. We don’t play the montuno during the whole song anymore. And with the influence from timba and other Cuban styles, Latin Jazz today sounds way different than what is was 70 years ago. 😊👍🎶 Nonetheless, thanks for the video

[@Pinkcloudsky1]

Yes, but we still like the classic style!

[@stephenrothman6058]

Ah, but having said that, you owe us a video, equally informative, dense and able to be practiced as the original, but on the contemporary styles. So the challenge is extended.

[@delayedsantana]

@@stephenrothman6058indeed he does haha

[@EE-hu9zx]

Takes a very complex concept and shows you how to understand, feel and play it with confidence. Best one I've seen on you tube so far...GROOVING and COOL.

[@hectormayoral443]

17:20 - That's what I'm talkin' about, just like my days back at the Havana

[@JamesZ32100]

Sounds like you had a great time

[@hectormayoral443]

@@JamesZ32100 I must been high when I said this five years ago, I've never been to Cuba, and I don't recall a club call Havana here in PR

[@JamesZ32100]

@@hectormayoral443 You're still right on the montuno beat that's prominent in Havana lol

[@jojotanify]

I'm so thankful for your videos. You're doing a great job. That was exactly what I was looking for.

[@CecilDSouza]

You are a terrific teacher in that you speak so clearly. But people have to have knowledge of piano music to know what you are explaining. My niece is a classical pianist who came out on top in India in 2014. I am interested to introduce her to your lessons on Cuban Jazz or Brazilian jazz for her to internalize them.

[@unsatura]

never can get over how clear and concise these vids are ..❤

[@matthieulietaert7385]

Amazing lesson, so clear, so pedagogical. Thanks for sharing your passion!

[@mudderdrummer]

maybe the best breakdown i have heard, and ive been dancing saIsa and afrocuban dances for 13 years

[@sarrabenbader1641]

Quite amazed about how much complex knowledge you just gave us for free in a 20-minute video. God bless you and boost your karma! Thank you

[@markaitkenguitar]

Wow this is so coherent and impressive. The first half of the video seemed simple enough and almost sterile. And then as soon as you combined both hands on the piano it was like pure magic. Your breakdown is masterful. Thank you so much!

[@Elwrt455]

Thanks for this tutorial. As a screenwriter and songwriter this video is an eye opener

[@MrRushabhT]

Much respect for this tutorial!

[@Myaccountishacked]

An excellent Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz tutorial ! Thank you.

[@lesterfalcon1350]

Damn, these lessons are so good. As you hit the fundamentals, I'm "yeah, that's the sound", the you extend it and it's foll of the colours and vibe of that sound.

[@joseernestoguerrerocueva9916]

People like u make internet such a nice tool, thank u, really thank u, my dear stranger

[@bbossin]

Super loving your lessons. Thank you.

[@plinyelder8156]

Even 6 years ago this info was outdated. Still like the video. Interesting.

[@rifraffer]

Really nice explaination of how it works. Very usefull for all people who want to do something with latin/latinjazz.

[@itorres008]

Good breakdown!

[@candlespotlight]

Awesome video- thank you for the super concrete and detailed explanation

[@zecalimazeca]

This is so priceless thank you

[@copache]

Incredible video, I learned a lot man thank you very very much

[@davidf.8497]

Beautiful tutorial and so useful! Thanks

[@Wazoox]

Excellent and very thorough!

[@prabirsekhri]

Very well explained! Thanks for the video!

[@darksteelbg]

Thank you very much for breaking it down.

[@juliojames4470]

Thanks for the explanation i'm actually studying these patterns and You just clear it very well to me🙏🙏🙏👍👍

[@jeannekoh9544]

Thank you! Very clear explanation!

[@matthargYT]

Thanks for a really clear video!

[@mikesax]

Very nicely done. Thank you.

[@jegoy68]

How the hell did I miss your page these years??? Oh man, you’re an awesome teacher!!! Thank you for your knowledge and selfless sharing!!! :-)

[@DimitriSmith1290]

Amazing. Thank you.

[@christinedai2915]

Love your slides

[@bosobot]

Thanks for another interesting and educating video! Yet another genre I'm now eager to explore. Looking forward to see the one on Afro-Brazilian jazz, which I guess was my entry point to jazz music.

[@giovanniperin]

Great lesson 🙏

[@arcadiadzl]

thanks for the rythm examples

[@andre.lourenco028]

great lesson, thanks very much !

[@juliojames4470]

Very GREAT explanation ❤️🙏👍🙏🙏

[@gjkill9922]

Excellent tutorial.

[@a.dejesus792]

kudos, nicely done. I liked your tutorial. As a salsa pianist I thought this to be very informative.

[@puravidasoundwaves]

So helpful thank you

[@israpianoman]

Thank you very much!!!

[@AweValera]

Super! Thanks a lot!

[@PJFox-lo8pi]

Great! Very informative!

[@transforminggravity15626]

Excellent thank you for sharing 💯😎🙏🎹

[@cptnemo7009]

Very well explained, thanks.

[@xjazz666]

Whatever I want to learn, I find it in your channel, Many Thanks

[@uhoh007]

Very Helpful, thank you

[@alexfont]

Just discovered you! Amazing channel! You'll do very well in KZbin. Thanks for this great video 👍🏼

[@Ketoswammy]

Very cool! 😎

[@KalpaHettiarachchi]

Thanks for the great explanation and performance,Greetings from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

[@santiagofuentesquintero8301]

yeahh at the end i was able to get it, for the love of... THANKS FROM DEEP OF MY HEART , i grow up with this music, i was aware about the layers, and how in west africa groove builded in simple layers that give the dancers and the story tellers a basement , but honestly I was never able to play it, now its clear in my mind.

[@rafaelortsespadero4870]

Muchas Gracias !

[@DickEnchilada]

The way you said "a boogie-woogie" made me think of Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder saying "A Wubble"

[@nynjahgyal]

Black Adder was insane!!! I’m gonna look it up on YT. Loved that show!

[@Materva-hv6sz]

Guitarist here trying out transposing salsa to the guitar. The part about second inversion arpeggios was especially helpful

[@tomeryaha6151]

It is funny becuase the Montuno is originated from the guitar of the Son music

[@AndreaAustoni]

Great lesson as always. Thanks! Maybe in the future you could insert some more piano playing to show the examples and to break the long spoken segments. Personally I tend to drift off. Your channel is priceless!

[@xenedon1509]

Hell yeah, the content is good, but you should defiantly rearrange your video rythm

[@jamesrussell5196]

Y’all should just pay attention

[@federicosilva5386]

wonderful explanation

[@nagomizik9358]

nothin will internalize these rhythms more than dancing! go out and dance ,the rhythms will slowly sink in !

[@christinedai2915]

Great lessons

[@r3dbab300]

Your piano sound beautiful

[@Agaveo_Productions]

3:36 very useful to clarify Clave. I'm clapping right now! Thank you.

[@antonmakhatilov8008]

how cool your videos are!!

[@ceedub1]

Thanks for the detailed straight forward presentation. I would have enjoyed hearing you play with the clave rhythm, maybe a drum machine, or a loop. Probably make it easier for us to feel the rhythm.

[@mimisaiko]

Nice! Also looking forward to the Afro-Brazilian part!

[@tronkiechannel]

Thank you!

[@rafaelgomez1989]

awesome TUTORIAL....CÁS- ca- ra ( accent on first syllable )

[@c7b5b9]

La Negra Tomasa very good tutorial!!!!!

[@IainEmslie]

THANKS

[@d.c.8828]

🔥🔥🔥 ¡Muy caliente! 🔥🔥🔥

[@lightspeedhorse8964]

alemarquis has very nice cover songs, nothing like the salsa from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Pianists Charlie and Eddie Palmieri, Richie Ray, Papo Lucca, Harlow, Markolino Dimond and many more

[@sonnybravo9699]

I totally agree w. Raúl! Also, the rhythmic pattern/concept is called "clave," but the instrument consisting of 2 cylindrical sticks are called "claves!" You don't have to have the actual clave pattern being played on the claves or a woodblock in order to play or write "in" clave. The pattern should be internalized & the melodic & rhythmic phrases should always adhere to the pattern! BTW, the stress is on the first syllable of the term, cáscara, hence the written accent on the first á! The cáscara (shell) pattern is played on the side (shell) of the timbales, hence the name! The cencerro (cowbell) pattern should be played on the mambo cowbell, not the smaller, higher pitched cha cha cowbell, both of which are mounted on the timbales. Finally, although based on Afro-Cuban rhythms, "the Salsa" is not an Afro-Cuban genre!

This is the best explanation that I’ve found of this matter. Thank you

[@MrBleubleubleu]

So helpful. KZbin can be like school sometimes, even better....

[@lukha225]

For the left hand Tumbao, you count 1 2 n 3 4 and hit E on the 3. The way it's written, E actually lands on 'n'. Beat 3 is a rest. Please double check.

[@abramjones9091]

Please do a video like this for other Afro Caribbean jazz influenced music like plena and soca

[@milibertad8939]

I'm really impressed with this lesson! Just wanted to add that you explained how to create the "Salsa sound" rhythmic layering. A real-life Salsa tune tends to have a unique tune structure: The first part consists of one repeating chord progression and montuno and rhythmic arrangement. Then there's one distinct peak point in the song that starts another section, with new chord progression, arrangement, montuno. So the structure looks like this: AAA-peak point-BBB (Salsa musicians joke that everything in Salsa structure repeats in multiples of 3). The BBB choruses tend to have more arrangements elements such as: *B theme (Coro) over the B progression *B improvisation (Soneo) over the B progression- usually vocals Or simply a section only with montuno and percussion and the bass stops playing or playing slides, then going back to full arrangement. I know this is about Salsa, but I really wish there was more Latin Jazz in the Salsa structure. I recommend listening to Timba and Salsa- for example N.G. La Banda - ¡Que Viva Changó!, Hector Lavoe-juanito alimaña, ray barretto - indestructible, Manteca · Poncho Sanchez.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

When I'm dancing im not in love with Jazzy Salsa and Timba.

[@milibertad8939]

@@shaolin1derpalm That's sweet and dandy and you may dance to whatever music you prefer. This is a video about "Latin Jazz". K?

[@ZuBaker]

Wow

[@HiItsCal]

another great vid! thanks for all your effort!! a quick production tip, take more talking breaks were you play the piano and give examples, it would help break the video up and make it seem more inviting. thank you again.

[@romeopetrucciarpegio]

wow excelent lesson... im wondering if you have some ragtime explanations like this one

[@The22on]

i don't think I will ever 'feel' these rhythms. I guess that I could play them mechanically after lots of practice. But listening to you play it on piano, I feel like I'm split in half - one half listening for downbeats and the other half listening for upbeats or sixteenths that fall at weird spots. I feel like my head will explode. I guess if you grew up with these beats, they seem normal. To me, it's like someone took a drum machine, got drunk, and tapped the keys. I keep wanting to hear a kick drum on one and three and a snare on 2 and 4 just to feel normal again lol.

[@Shapeguydude]

It's ok we're just too white

[@remyzsacka8670]

Get familiar with clave rhythms ;)

[@evertdude]

Hi, your version of con carne is diffrent then i know ,where u get that? BRO AND I APPRECIATE THESE VIDEOS A LOT! GOD BLESS YOU

[@nickerzgames]

Super cool! Thanks for this amazing lesson. Just one question. What would a rhythm guitarist play in an afro cuban band?

[@NikolaYuroukov]

Thank you so much for your videos! You're so knowledgeable and accurate!

[@WalkThatBass]

My pleasure. Thanks for the comment :)

[@tomeryaha6151]

Chitlin con carne clave is called Bosa Nova clave

[@chiliandcornbread09]

i cant wait for the video on the afro Brazillian video. also do you have a patreon? if you did id be more than happy to contribute

[@WalkThatBass]

Hey mate, No sorry, I don't have a patreon, but you can donate through my website if you'd like to support the channel: www.thejazzpianosite.com/donate/ Cheers :) WTB

[@travisdt]

do you cover the bossa nova? It really helps because you explain everything very well. Will learn from you in the future for sure

[@WalkThatBass]

Haven't made a Boss vid yet. It's on my list!

[@latonywoods9581]

Jazz; Classic, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, or Smooth all from the GENIUS of so call Black People and naturally the best teachers of IT!!

[@BishamonX]

it was good very just to clarify

[@BishamonX]

cool

[@ejshelby5460]

If you divide the muntjno into eighth notes, & use the “&” counting method, the piano would play: 1, 2, &, -, &, -, &.

[@solrogersmullins5973]

9:16 -personal note

[@ginohernandez3770]

Este ingles tiene sabor..

[@lararilaraaa]

GINO HERNANDEZ sabor de água

[@kobab4270]

That’s amazing! Thanks for giving us such quality content for free. I was wondering, could you do Afrobeat too? Since you have done most of the genres it’s influenced by (Jazz and Funk) and covered a somewhat similar genre(Afro-Cuban Jazz)? Thanks again

[@FettyIsaza]

what a great tutorial!! thank you so much for it, would be awesome to have more latin jazz and salsa tutorials thanks from colombia :D

[@ladyaly864]

It's still Afro-Cuban when you eat it...It just comes out as "Salsa" after digestion..."Latin" is French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and Hispanic...Cubans are Hispanics...Soo, even calling the "Latins" is a vague description, of such a rich culture...Thanks from Cuba...

[@dfastlearner920]

19:27 ♥

[@norakat]

I think you're over-generalizing a bit to say that you always keep the harmony simple and that its all about rhythm because often the harmonic composition can become complex once you get into more modern stuff.

[@emmanuelhaddads6211]

do have loops, samples, midi, rex for piano in this style?

[@andrewwilliams9580]

Is a tenth like thirds but in different octaves?

[@james69136]

Hi Sir, do you conduct lessons on online?

[@brucejandrey750]

Please. Please have your piano tuned.