Just as Afro-American music has strong roots in religious worship, Afro-Cuban music is firmly rooted in spiritual practice. The most popular and well known is Santería, also known as Regla de Ochá, La Regla de Ifá, or Lucumí

Pedro “Pedrito” Martinez, Roman Diaz and Little Johnny Rivero in a secular setting

The composition is “Tuesday Glory” and if you didn’t notice, it’s entirely percussion.

Left to right the instruments are conga (Little Johnny Rivero), timbale (Pedro “Pedrito” Martinez), and cajon and bata (Roman Diaz)

Recorded February 24, 2010 at Congahead.com studios.

Manteca!

From religious service to secular drum session to Latin jazz, that’s how the music flows – back and forth – and why it remains so vital to this day.

Onel Mulet ‘s arrangement of the Afro-Cuban classic “Manteca.”

Personnel:

Onel Mulet, soprano sax
Jason Marshall, baritone sax
Xavier Perez, tenor sax
Al Acosta, alto
Pedro “Pedrito” Martinez, bata (omele)
Roman Diaz, bata (iya)
Rafael Monteagudo, bata (oconcolo)
Little Johnny Rivero, conga

– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube