Son basics
Cuban genre blending Spanish melody with African rhythm; foundation of salsa
Son
The repeating chorus sung by a group in son and salsa
Coro
two hardwood sticks AND the rhythmic pattern that organizes all Cuban music
Clave
Cuban guitar-like instrument with 3 pairs of strings; central to early son
Tres
Early son septet founded in 1927 by Ignacio Piñeiro
Septeto Nacional
The part of eastern Cuba where son originated
Oriente
Extended improvisatory section of son; also the name of the piano vamp underneath it
Montuno
When a melody note lands before the beat - specifically on the 'and' of beat 4
Anticipation
Gourd rattles filled with seeds; core son percussion of African origin
Maracas
Cuban-born NY bandleader who co-founded the Afro-Cubans with Mario Bauzá
Machito
The expanded son ensemble format with trumpets and piano, developed in the 1940s
Son conjunto
The basic son structure in order
Verso - coro - montuno
The two possible orientations of the son clave pattern
2-3 or 3-2
Box-shaped bass instrument with metal tines; related to the African mbira
Marimbula
Cuban trumpeter and arranger who was the musical architect behind Machito's band
Mario Bauzá
Call-and-response section of a son where the lead singer improvises
Montuno
Spontaneous lyric creation by the lead singer during the montuno; called soneos
Improvisation
Playing your phrases out of alignment with this is a serious error in Cuban music
the clave
Pair of small hand drums played between the knees; core son percussion
Bongo
Puerto Rican timbales virtuoso known as 'El Rey' of Latin music
Tito Puente
The opening narrative verse section of a son
Verso
During the montuno, the lead singer's phrases go in the spaces between these
Coro responses
the 'anticipated bass' creates this overall rhythmic feel
Syncopation
African-origin instrument that resembles a xylophone, found across Latin America
Marimba
Puerto Rican singer known for romantic mambo style; one of the 'Big Three'