01 Dizzy Gillespie

Cubana Be, Cubana Bop

(Dreyfus Jazz, 2000)

In the beginning… This compilation focuses on 1946-1949 when the bebop pioneer hitched the fast-living but short-lived Cuban conguero Chano Pozo to his experimental big band and effectively invented Cubop. Afro-Cuban jazz numbers like the title-track and ‘Manteca’ remain indelible classics. The trumpeter’s love of Cuban and other Latin rhythms would culminate in his mighty United Nation Orchestra.

02 The George Shearing Quintet

Latin Affair

(Capitol Records, 1959)

Who would have predicted that a blind, classically-trained jazz pianist from London would move to the US and create a popular ‘jazz Latin’ cocktail? After leading a more conventional quintet in the 50s, Shearing added Armando Pereza’s congas to a piano, vibes, bass and drums format. This one typifies his sound – similar to vibraphonist Cal Tjader’s combos, without the gravitas perhaps, but with a soothing after-hours charm.

03 Ike Quebec

Bossa Nova Soul Samba

(Blue Note, 1962)

The hybrid of jazz and bossa nova from Brazil, aided by Bud Shank, Charlie Byrd and especially Stan Getz, sparked a craze, with everyone jumping on the bandwagon. Former Blue Note talent scout and tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec made this understated gem with Latin luminaries Willie Bobo on drums and Garvin Masseaux on shekere and featuring perma-cool guitarist Kenny Burrell.

04 Grant Green

The Latin Bit

(Blue Note, 1962)

Bobo and Masseaux add Latin heft to this one, too, as does Cuban conguero, Carlos ‘Patato’ Valdés. This was the era when Green was virtually Blue Note’s house guitarist, appearing on countless sessions. His principal excursion into Latin territory is sometimes sniffed at as lightweight, but to hear his sharp, crystalline, single-note guitar lines play ‘Tico Tico’, ‘Brazil’ and other Latin standards is a perennial pleasure.

05 Wayne Shorter (featuring Milton Nascimento)

Native Dancer

(Columbia, 1975)

A decade after ‘Mr Weird’ recorded his jazz masterpiece, Speak No Evil, for Blue Note, and right after his Pan-American rhythmic Tale Spinnin’ with Weather Report, he teamed up with the emerging Brazilian star Milton Nascimento. Backed by the likes of Herbie Hancock and Airto Moreira, Shorter’s soprano sax complements Nascimento’s extraordinary voice on ravishing songs such as ‘From The Lonely Afternoons’ and ‘Ponto de Areia’.

06 Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Abraça Jobim: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Antonio Carlos Jobim Song Book

(Pablo Today, 1981)

Long after Ella recorded her Great American Song Books for Norman Granz’ Verve label to cement her renown, she recorded her tribute to Jobim for another Granz label. Unfairly treated sometimes as an afterthought by the critics, this is a worthy addendum. Yes, she sings mainly in English, but with Latin big-hitters like Alex Acuna, Paulinho da Costa and Oscar Castro-Neves in the band, it would be churlish to complain.

07 Hilton Ruiz

Something Grand

(Novus, 1987)

This dazzling Nuyorican pianist had a foot in both camps. Inspired by Duke Ellington, he started as a jazz pianist, working with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, among others, before recording some trio albums. This high-calibre Latin jazz outing marks a point where he went over to the other side – and stayed thereabouts until his career was cut short by a tragic accident.

08 Charles Fambrough

City Tribes

(Evidence, 1996)

Another who died far too young (at 60), the Philadelphian bassist served his jazz apprenticeship with the likes of Art Blakey, McCoy Tyner and Wynton Marsalis, but started ‘investigating Latin music.’ He explained, ‘It just happened that way… I have all these ideas.’ With Café and Marlon Simon’s sympathetic percussion, his ideas cohere and arguably culminate in this confident mix of urban Latin rhythms and soaring melodies.

09 David Murray Cuban Ensemble

Plays Nat King Cole en Español

(EmArcy, 2011)

Always ready to experiment, the prolific saxophonist and bass clarinettist had explored Caribbean rhythms in 1998’s Creole. Seeing by chance Nat King Cole’s photograph in Havana’s Egrem studios inspired this lyrical and often ravishing tribute with a ten-piece Cuban band and strings supplied by an 11-piece Portuguese string section. An unqualified delight.

10 Zaccai Curtis

Cubop Lives!

(TRRCollective, 2024)

We come full circle… The US pianist, composer and educator formed a mainstream band with his brother Luques under the influence of pianist Bud Powell and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Here, assisted by his brother and some scintillating Afro-Cuban percussion, the pianist is in top form on a series of standards (including ‘Maple Leaf Rag’!), tributes and originals played à la Cubop. DownBeat’s four-and-a-half stars are richly deserved.