Feel the rhythm as Latin and Cuban jazz take an energetic spin at Word of South

People often ask, “Scotty: what is Latin Jazz? What is Cuban Jazz?” There’s no pat and easy answer.

What has come to be known as Latin Jazz might have had its earliest incarnation in some rhythms and influences the turn of the century great Jelly Roll Morton called “the Spanish tinge.” Its official start might have come in 1940, when the Cuban-born trumpet player Mario Bauzá hit the New York scene with his tune “Tangá.”

From there what we know as Latin Jazz has taken off, with different rhythms added to traditional jazz, and also different instruments: timbales, claves, congas and bongos, to name a few. The music is highly energetic, and generally considered more dance-friendly than other jazz, sometimes also in a higher register. It’s just something else.

Like any other grouping, there are sub-genres within Latin Jazz: Afro-Caribbean Jazz, that features calypso merengue rhythms; and Afro-Brazilian jazz, which includes baiaos, bossa nova and samba. There is Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz and Afro-Peruvian Jazz, too, but perhaps the largest sub-genre (some would say it’s its own genre) is Afro-Cuban or just Cuban Jazz.

Dances abound to this music: the cha-cha, the mambo and the rumba to name a few, and the list of towering Cuban jazz musicians is lengthy, from Tito Puente on to Arturo Sandoval.

We’re fortunate at Word of South this year to have a number of outstanding Latin Jazz musicians, starting with the multi-instrumentalist (he plays 18 instruments, at last count) Roger Glenn, whose father Tyree Glenn played with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong, including playing on the classic recording “It’s a Wonderful World.”

Roger’s recent recording “My Latin Heart” features him playing vibes, flute, alto sax and also singing, and showcases his passion for Afro-Caribbean (and Afro-Brazilian) rhythms.

Roger will be followed by the Caribbean-influenced group Son ‘D Aqui, who wowed Cascades Park when they were here as part of the Florida Jazz & Blues Festival a few years back, and finally by Bobby Ramirez, a flautist and saxophonist known as one of the world’s Cuban Jazz greats, who will appear with his award-winning band, Pan Con Bistec. In between sets, Roger and Bobby and others will discuss Latin Jazz in all its permutations. It should be great!

Please join us Sunday, April 28, at the Marriott AC Hotel Ballroom stage at Word of South, for what is sure to be a one-of-a-kind, high-energy rhythmic afternoon.

William “Scotty” Barnhart is a trumpeter, three-time Grammy winner and Florida State University professor. Since 1993, he has played as a featured soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra, and in September 2013 became its director.

Countdown to Word of South

What & when: Roger Glenn, 12:45 p.m. Sunday; Son d'Aqui, 2 p.m. Sunday; Panel on Latin and Cuban Jazz, 3:15 p.m. Sunday; Pan Con Bistec, 4:15 p.m. Sunday

Where: Florida Jazz & Blues Stage at the Marriott AC Hotel Ballroom, Cascades Park

Full schedule: wordofsouthfestival.com

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Latin and Cuban jazz take spotlight at Word of South