As a genre, Latin Jazz evolved from a rich cultural exchange, a process that has only intensified in the modern age. The roots of the music were born from a forced cultural exchange, as West African slaves struggled to maintain their musical traditions in an unfamiliar environment. Musical ideas soon blended into a new and exciting style that took pieces of West African music, Western European harmony, and bits of Cuban syncopation; this mixture became jazz in the United States. In the Caribbean and South America, a long list of African influenced genres arose, ranging from rumba to samba and festejo. Jazz, Caribbean, and South American musical styles eventually met on United States soil, working together to form our current idea of Latin Jazz. As the style gelled in New York and spread across the country, different cultures across the United States added their own touches to the music. Soon Latin jazz shared ideas with funk, rock, and fusion, spreading throughout the musical landscape. The exchange reached beyond the borders of the United States though, as musicians from Canada and Europe also began trading musical inspirations. Although most people recognize the cultural exchange that originally spawned Latin Jazz, they sometimes forget the continued expansion of the music past Stateside shores.

Drummer and composer Marlon Simon brought the continued idea of cultural exchange into the forefront of the Latin Jazz world through his collaboration with the French Latin Jazz group Black Chantilly. Inspired by Simon’s 2004 recording Rumba a la Patato, the group contacted him in a desire to learn more about the music. When Simon traveled to France to offer workshops and do concerts, he began a relationship with the members of Black Chantilly. After receiving several grants and cultural exchange funding, Simon traveled to France and spent some intensive time with the group, perfecting a challenging set of music. Black Chantilly dug into Simon’s music energetically, absorbing the Latin Jazz influence. Simon and Black Chantilly organized a concert that displayed the outstanding results of their efforts. It was recorded and released as an album, giving us the fantastic recording Afrocuban And Live. Following this initial experience, Simon found more funding in the States to bring Black Chantilly back to his home base of Philadelphia for a series of concerts in the surrounding areas. The French musicians brought their original inspirations and their Latin Jazz lessons back to the States, sharing a European perspective on the music with an East Coast audience. On both sides of the equation, an active exchange of ideas, aesthetics, and traditions expanded the definition of Latin Jazz.

The cultural exchange between Simon’s rich Latin Jazz knowledge and the French jazz sensibilities of Black Chantilly provided some outstanding music on Afrocuban And Live, but the impact goes much deeper than that. Simon & Black Chantilly pushed the genre a step forward through their exchange of ideas and transplanted cultural norms into new countries. Their experiences planted the seed of Latin Jazz into the French musicians, opening a world of exciting future possibilities. The much more interesting outcome will be the subsequent Latin Jazz that Black Chantilly produces on their own. There are Latin Jazz groups in Europe - Snowboy And The Latin Section, the CMS Trio, and Samuel Quinto to name a few - but Black Chantilly digested a Latin Jazz influence from an experienced and knowledgeable musician. They also absorbed the influence through their trip to the United States. It’s their task now to develop a personal and distinctly French perspective on this music. As individuals they may move onto other projects as well, spreading their knowledge among the greater music scene; the initial exchange with Simon holds the potential to alter the state of the French jazz scene. It will be interesting to watch Simon’s future efforts as well, observing the influence that he derived from the French musicians. The act of teaching goes hand in hand with the act of learning, and Simon most likely gained some ideas from his collaborators that should flow through his future compositions. Time will be the telling element here, revealing the results of the collaboration; right now, at least we know for certain that cultural exchange continues to move Latin Jazz into the future.

Today’s Latin Jazz Video Fix digs in a little deeper into that collaboration between Simon and Black Chantilly, providing a new insight into the act of cultural exchange. This film finds Black Chantilly traveling to the United States and joining Simon for the continuation of their musical journey. There’s some great music here and a look at the people behind the music - cultural exchange is both artistic and social, as you’ll see here. You’ll hear English, Spanish, and French, as well as the sounds of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms. There’s a true multi-cultured spirit here that makes the experience all the more real. Today’s video provides an opportunity to look back at this important cultural exchange . . . and hope for more in the future. Enjoy!

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Marlon Simon French Latin Jazz Project

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Want a little bit more of Marlon Simon? Take a minute to check out his previous releases:

In Case You Missed It

Rumba a la Patato

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Do you have a video to contribute to satisfy our weekly Latin Jazz video fix? If so, send it in - it’s time to feed our addiction. I’m looking for live performances, from any context. I’ll most likely be posting one video per week, but if you’ve got another idea, let’s talk. So come on Latin Jazz videographers, musicians, and fans - let’s share some of our memorable videos! Get my contact info HERE

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Check Out These Related Posts:
Best Latin Jazz of 2007 Winners: Album Of The Year and Next Generation Artist
Best Latin Jazz of 2007 Winners: Percussion & Drum Kit
Weekly Latin Jazz Video Fix: Edmar Castaneda
Weekly Latin Jazz Video Fix: Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble

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