REVELATIONS: Cubop to Hip-Hop Study Guide

Cubop to Hip-Hop!

The History of Afro Latin Music in NYC RESOURCE GUIDE

OVERVIEW

This Interactive concert explores the history of how Afro-Cuban music was born out of the New York City melting pot during the 1950’s and 60’s, leading to the birth of funk and hip-hop through the lens of Latin music icons Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Hector Lavoe and more. CuBop to Hip-Hop will feature Salcedo’s Latin-Soul, a high energy collective that includes multiple horns, percussionists and vocalists led by Steven Salcedo.

CONCEPTS

COMMUNITY - an interacting population of various kinds of people in a common location.

CALL AND RESPONSE - a musical conversation in which instrumentalists and/or vocalists answer one another.

CULTURE - the way of life, especially the customs and beliefs of a particular group of people.

Musical Terms

A 2-bar rhythmical phrase that is the fundamental building block of Afro-Cuban music, made up of 5 notes split up 3+2 or 2+3. We use a phrase to remember the rhythm: “How are you? I’m fine!”

Clave comes from the spanish words

Llave = key Clavo = nail Clavar = to hammer in/out

Derived from the spanish word, tumbar = to knock out any repetitive rhythm played by congas, bass, piano, or guitar. “A groove that makes you move, TUMBAO”

A repetitive vamp utilized by singers and instrumentalists for improvisation in Cuban music. Based on the Spanish words montura (saddle) and montaña (mountain). The montuno was born in the mountainous regions of eastern Cuba. Originally a Bantú-Congolese word referring to a repetitive chant, mambo as a popular style of Afro-Cuban music originated in the late 1930’s. Mambo reached the high point of its popularity in the late 1950’s at the Palladium Ballroom in New York City where the Machito orchestra advanced the Mambo concept by fusing it with jazz.

Meet the Instruments!

Saxophone

The saxophone is a member of the woodwind family. Most woodwind instruments, with the exception of the clarinet, are also made of metal. Their warm tone (and their name) comes from the wooden reeds responsible for their sound.

Trombone

The trombone is a member of the brass family. Lower in pitch than a trumpet, the trombone uses a slide to change notes. They can also play melodies and produce a range of sounds using mutes and vocal effects.

Piano

The piano supports the harmonies and rhythms of the music. Unlike the bass player, who usually plays just one note at a time, pianists can play many notes at once. They create rich combinations of notes (or chords) that support the melody and the soloist. Like the drums,they can also comment on the music with rhythmic accents.

Bass Drums

The bass player works very closely with the drummer to keep the groove together. The bassist plays the lowest notes on stage.

Congas

The drums keep time for the band, creating and maintaining the groove with the bass player. The drummer can also interact with the rest of the band, “talking” to the other musicians by playing accents in response to the music.

Congas - The congas are descended from large log shaped drums that were brought to Cuba from West Africa. The time keeping patterns played on the congas are known as Tumbaos.

Timbales

Timbales - The timbales are paired drums (2) that come from Cuba. These drums were made famous by the King of Mambo, “El Rey” Tito Puente.

Clave

Tumbao Montuno

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Mambo

Important Figures in Latin Music:

Cuban musician and composer who wrote many songs, including what is considered to be the first piece of Afro Latin Jazz, “Tanga”. He was also one of the musicians responsible for introducing Dizzy Gillespie to Afro Cuban music.

Dizzy Gillespie

John “Birks” Gillespie was an American trumpeter, composer and singer. One of the architects of BeBop, he, along with Bauzá and other musicians including Chano Pozo fused Afro Cuban music and jazz to form the genre we now call Afro Latin Jazz.

Machito

was a Latin jazz musician and pioneer of Afro Cuban Jazz, CuBop & Mambo. Was also one of the cofounders of The Afro-Cubans along with his friend and fellow Cuban, Mario Bauzá.

Tito Puente

A percussionist and bandleader who specialized in Mambo and Latin Jazz. Known as “El Rey del Timbal”

(The King of the Timbal), his performances and compositions had a lasting impact across all genres of music. His most famous song of all, “Oye Como Va”, was a mega-hit for Rock & Roll legend Carlos Santana.

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Mario Bauzá

Important Figures in Latin Music:

Rafael Cortijo & Ismael Rivera were a dynamic duo of Puerto Rican musicians who used the traditional styles from Puerto Rico of Bomba and Plena to create their own unique style.

Cuban percussionist and composer who was a leading figure in the Boogaloo movement of the 1960s. His cover of Herbie Hancock’s song “Watermelon Man” is considered to be a cross-over sensation, reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cuban-American singer who not only known in Cuba as one of the best singers of Afro Cuban music, but would also be later affectionately known as the “Queen of Salsa”. One of the few old-school musicians to truly embrace the genre of Salsa.

Fania Record Label Artists

Fania Records was the leading record label in Salsa. Some of the most important figures in the genre recorded through this company: Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez and many more.

Mongo Santamaria Celia Cruz

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Cortijo & Ismael Rivera

Suggested Recordings:

Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite

(1951, Mercury MG C-505)

Afro

(1954, Norgran MGN 1003)

Puente in Percussion

(1956 Tico LP 1011)

Baile con Cortijo

(Tropical TRLP 5107)

Machito Dizzy Gillespie Tito Puente Cortijo y Su Combo

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Mongo Santamaria

Watermelon Man! (Battle BM 6120)

Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco

Celia y Johnny (1974 Vaya XVS 31)

Fania All Stars

Live at Yankee Stadium vol. 1 & 2 (1975 Fania SLP 00476, 00477)

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