Does anyone know anything about these please?? The Old Man wants to know.
I think he wants to know about rhythms and how they are constructed.
He plays the guitar and is coming up to grade 3 Thanks.
Bev.

A little, but only a very little.

Latin America encompasses a large area so e.g. Cuban rhythms and Brazilian rhythms are different. There's often an alternating pattern of on/off beat accents so e.g. over 2 bars it could be something like this with accents in bold (there would also be something like a shaker playing quavers, and a bass drum on a different rhythm - I'm afraid my knowledge is sketchy)

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |

A couple of clave patterns:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |

My sax teacher plays a lot of Brazilian music so we've chatted a bit about it - I don't think there's any sort of substitute for growing up with it. I think the musical culture is such that the complex rhythms just get internalised. There's a Brazilian big band I discovered via emusic called Banda Mantiquera - it's well worth trying to get hold of and listen to some of that plus any other Cuban/Brazilian music. I really enjoy listening and trying play it, sometimes there's a fleeting moment when everything locks in and it's so uplifting.

Thanks TSax. That's just th sort of thing he is looking for. I did Google it, but couldn't find anything last night.
Bev.

Basically, the various rhythm parts are built up/rest on a two bar clave pattern - which is is either 3-2 (the well known 'my dog's got no nose' or 'Bo Diddley' beat is a typical example - there are, as TSax says, subtle variations) or 2-3 (the same, but with the two bars reversed). This pattern is not always explcit in the music, but can always be fitted to the music. Each instrument will then have distinctive parts to play around this.

An excellent way of learning Brazilian rhythms, at least, is to join your local samba band (there are lots...), or go salsa dancing for a more Cuban/Columbian take. If you just want a vaguely 'Latin' feel, listen to say, bossa nova ... the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim is a sophisticated version with a lot of real Latin rhythm still in it, and the 'Getz/Gilberto' albums of the early 60s are a great introduction to it. Or get the Jobim playalong CD in the Jamey Abersold series ...

Search for 'samba rhythm ' for a lot of websites giving examples. Or for the real McCoy, see if you can find Birger Sulsbruck's book 'Latin/American Percussion Instruemtns and Their Music' (now o/p I think)/

hope this helps
nick