FAQ About The Influence of Afro-Cuban Music on Global Rhythms

Afro-Cuban music had a significant impact on jazz, particularly starting in the mid-20th century. Musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo collaborated to blend Cuban rhythms with jazz elements, giving birth to Afro-Cuban jazz or Latin jazz. This genre maintains the improvisational aspects of jazz while incorporating the complex, layered rhythms typical of Afro-Cuban music. The use of percussion instruments and the introduction of Afro-Cuban musical structures, such as clave patterns, became foundational in many jazz compositions.