The Beginners Guide To Latin Jazz is an introduction to the musical art form that emerged during the 20th Century when Caribbean and South American rhythms fused with North American jazz. Not such a strange union since both Latin music and jazz come from the same root, Africa, and have many similar characteristics (improvisation, repetition, polyrhythms).From the 1940s onwards, Latin jazz became an important genre in itself as new musical styles such as mambo (Cuba) and bossa nova (Brazil) became standard additions to the jazz musician’s repertoire. Whether it is a bebop singer covering a Cuban song or a Latino band interpreting a jazz standard, the Beginner’s Guide To Latin Jazz covers all spectrums of this fiery and dynamic musical fusion, from the 1940s to the present day.