African-Cuban

A musical style that arose in Cuba, reflecting the African traditions of the black population; it stresses percussion instruments, improvisatory procedures, response patterns and especially rhythm and dance. The traditions have given rise to many dance types, such as the rumba, the mambo and the cha cha cha, that have become popular in the USA and Europe. African-Cuban jazz, created from bop and Latin American elements, arose in the late 1940s; its chief American exponent was Dizzy Gillespie, influenced by his collaboration with the Cuban composer and percussionist Chano Pozo.