Top Afro Cuban Samples

js wrote: I've been reading Ted Gioia's history of jazz and its interesting how Latin and African rhythms intersect throughout history, starting with the North African invasion of Spain and so on. The earliest jazz musicians in New Orleans were supposedly influenced by Mexican calvary band etc. It would seem the Latin and African rhythms are already tangled together long before you get to Afro-Cuban jazz. Afro-Cuban jazz is just more synthesis of previous synthesises

Oh yeah John, Mali, Guinean and Senegal bands went to Cuba in the fifties and brought it back which explains Bembeya Jazz and Orchestra Baobab's sound as two examples. Heaps of west Afican influenced Cuban stuff no to mention African Rhumba from the Congo

congo bongo!!!

I have to agree, the formal dances are not my thing either, I'm thinking I'm a mambo man 

^ very Spanish, and I think I hear some similarities to the Tango?

js wrote: Based on the samples provided, I'm guessing that "El Manisero" is based on Guaracha rhythms, not Son. Correct?

John it is Son/Pregon. The original has a more traditional Cuban sound (1930), Don Aziazu's Orchestra was behind him.  I actually prefer the original but was not available on YouTube. Yesterday before I went out I was trying to put up some Maria Teresa Vera from pre 1920's. There is some stuff but not what I was looking for  ( with Rafael Zequeira) but I will find something that can be used.. That is the old "Trova"...........rural style....accoustic. tres, guitar and vocals. I am bleeding there is no Cheo Marquetti tunes ( Conjunto that played glorious sleazy Son)...........he was awesome I may come across something though while going through You Tube over time yet.

js wrote: You go Matt, I'll check all these later, I have young students to deal with now.

Next is the "Cha Cha Cha' with this being the first actually recorded in Cuba 1953. Ninon Mondejar was the leader of Orquesta America and actually The Cha Cha Cha is from a Danzon formula with a rythmn change and boy did it take off.  The Cha Cha Cha is known as classic  Latin music today as soon as the sound is heard. The video lists it as a Charanga which is what the orquestra played previously with a more French leaning but this is Cha Cha Cha number 1. The actual name of the tune is "La Verde Palma"  

This one is a Guaracha and there is no better person to sing them than the great Celia Cruz and great really is an understatement for Celia, she could sing with one fabulous powerful voice, but here it is early days and this recording was done in Cuba betweeen 1951 to 53 with La Sonora Matancera.

I will be listing the definitions for the rythmn and lyrics in another thread soon. I will admit I have not started ( a little last night) but just starting to organise but if I know as the samples come up I will list what they are. As the music becomes more contempary it gets a lot harder and actually impossible to list many as they are a mix at times of many or Western influence's permeate.

Edited by Matt - 01 Jul 2012 at 3:38pm

Matt wrote: Todays music additions   First up the great Cuban tres player who was actually blind after being kicked in the face by a mule as a child being Arsenio Rodriguez and his songs are still performed today in contempary manners by many a Latin musician.   Arsenio though was the man who ushered in the great Cuban format of "The Conjunto" during the mid to late forties. Previous to that it was either an Orchestra or duos and trios. Where as you may question Sexteto Habenero they did not use the instruments that are within a conjunto being guitar,tres and percussion primarily. A Conjunto consists of Congas, bongos or perhaps timbales today,  piano, trumpet or trumpets, tres, guitar, bass and vocalists.   This man is the real deal and one of the greatest musicians. One may laugh at the comparison but he is the Cuban Hank Williams and recognised as such within the Latin community.   One other note another thing that does have similarities is Bluegrass started in a similar manner in the late forties from duos etc to till Bill Monroes construction of a typical Bluegrass band but today it is Cuban Conjuntos   This track is "Dundunbanza" recorded in Cuba 1/12/1949   A superb young "Chocolate" Armenteros is on trumpet in the conjunto who is all over many of the Sar recordings in the seventies.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddKqtbqAAEw

Guaguanco'