Latin Rhythms

BOLERO (boh-LEH-roh) Is a Latin ballad and it is not to be confused with the Maurice Ravel composition of the same name. It is in the pretty slow tempo range but can sometimes have open vamps for improvisation that pick up in energy quite a bit, Such as in a Bolero-Son. 

BONGO (bohn-GOH) A small double drum (held between the knees, resting on the claves of the seated musician). 

CENCERRO - (sen-SEH-roh) A large hand-held cowbell played with a stick. It produces two notes, depending upon where it is struck. In Cuban music and SALSA, it is usually played by the bongo artist when the band goes into the “ride” or MAMBO section after the main vocal. In good hands, it can drive an entire band with ever-increasing excitement and power. 

CHACHACHA (cha-cha-CHA) Some claim that this is the second section of the DANZON; others argue that it is a slower MAMBO. It was sometimes called a double MAMBO in New York since its basic dance step was the MAMBO with a double step in the fourth-to-first beats…chachaCHA! The CHACHACHA developed around 1953 in the hands of Cuban CHARANGAS. It was an elegantly hot music in its original flute-and-fiddle form. 

CHARANGA (cha-RANG-gah) A Cuban dance orchestra consisting of flute backed by two or three fiddles, piano, bass and TIMBALES. CHARANGAS tended to play different dances from the Afro-Cuban CONJUNTOS, the most characteristic of which was the DANZON. CHARANGAS might range from large society units to small street bands. Modern CHARANGAS use the bongo and conga drums in the rhythm section and swing mightily in a light, precise, non-funky way.

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