From the editor

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2003 by Rudy Mangual

Welcome to our annual Latin jazz issue, which we celebrate every April. As is the case with most musical styles and genres, the exact moment that Latin jazz was conceived is not really known; most historians give the honor to the late Cuban bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Mario Bauzá. In 1943 while directing the Machito Orchestra, he wrote Tanga, which captured on paper as well as in sound the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz music. Several years later, Bauzá introduced Dizzy Gillespie to percussionist Chano Pozo, and together they wrote the second chapter in the history of Latin jazz. On September 29, 1947, at Carnegie Hall, Gillespie introduced to the world his new Afro-Cuban jazz sound and band member, Chano Pozo. Together they co-wrote the Latin jazz classic composition Manteca.

Another jazz giant that was moving along the same lines was Stan Kenton. In 1947, inspired by the sounds of the Noro Morales and Machito orchestras, he recorded the tune His Feet Too Big For De Bed, featuring José Mangual on bongó and Pedro Allende on maracas. The orchestras of Harry James and Duke Ellington also experimented with Latin rhythms thanks to the compositions of Puerto Rican trombonist Juan Tizol. His compositions Conga Brava, Moon Over Cuba and Bakiff, brought an exotic Latin flavor to the big band era. Tizol is perhaps best known for his classic compositions Caravan and Perdido. Latin music and Afro-Caribbean rhythms seduced the fancy of jazz musicians Coleman Hawkins, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Nat King Cole, and even Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Then came the Latin jazz wave of the 1950s led by a new breed of musicians such as Tito Puente, Chico O'Farrill, Cal Tjader, José "Chombo" Silva, Ray Barretto, Candido Camero, Herbie Mann, Patato Valdés, Sabú Martínez, Willie Bobo, and the most influential conga player/bandleader in the development and history of Latin jazz, Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría.

We salute and dedicate this issue of Latin Beat Magazine to the memory and musical achievements of this recently departed giant of Latin music. Que descanse en paz.