is a blend of Afro Cuban rhythms with Jazz harmonies and form, usually featuring extended solos. The movement has been going since the 1940's when Beboper Dizzy Gilespie hired Cuban percussionist Chano Pozo to play with his big band. Pianist George Shearing and Vibraphonist Cal Tjader were both exponents of the style and featured Cuban percussionists Armando Peraza and Mongo Santamaria, among others. Latin Jazz is primarily an instrumental (non vocal) music.

Latin jazz is the general term given to music that is a combination of rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz harmonies from the United States. There are two main types of Latin Jazz. Brazilian Latin Jazz - bossa nova and samba Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz - salsa, merengue, songo, son, mambo, bolero, charanga and cha cha cha.

A hybrid of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms

A hybrid of jazz and Latin music. The term could cover anything from a Cuban number with a couple of Louis Armstrong phrases to a straight jazz number with a conga, but is best confined to crosses with a more or less full Latin rhythmic section, or one combining several Latin and jazz elements, and an instrumental frontline.

jazz played with Afro-Latin rhythms and percussion.

Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz harmonies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and United States.