Before you play a note from your PDF, answer these three questions:
Find the collection/songbook on Sheet Music Plus . Decoding Afro-Cuban Jazz - Sher Music Co. decoding afrocuban jazz pdf better
In a standard jazz PDF, the bass walks. In an Afrocuban jazz PDF, the bass tumbao is a fixed cell. Look at the bass staff. You will likely see a pattern landing on beats: . Before you play a note from your PDF,
: Gain direct insight into the creative process of pianist/composer Chucho Valdés All-in-One Resource In an Afrocuban jazz PDF, the bass tumbao is a fixed cell
If your accents are falling on the "dead side" of the clave (the gaps), you will sound like a conservatory student guessing. PDFs that include "Clave Alignment Charts" are the only ones worth your time.
The problem isn't the notes. The problem is the . Simply owning a PDF of "Manteca" or "A Night in Tunisia" (with its Afro roots) does not grant you the rhythmic DNA. To decode Afrocuban jazz PDF better , you must shift your eyes from the vertical (harmony/chords) to the horizontal (rhythmic polyphony).