Latin Jazz

Mark Levine, who made his mark in both swinging and Latin jazz as a pianist, trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator, died on Jan. 27, at 83.

A master of Puerto Rico's indigenous music forms, bomba and plena, Héctor “Tito” Matos died on Jan. 18 at his home in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He was 53.

Bobby Sanabria, the host of Latin Jazz Cruise on WBGO, played with Larry Harlow for more than 25 years. He remembers the titan of salsa with this tribute.

Latin music legend Tito Puente was profoundly influenced by his time overseas during World War II. His fellow percussionist Bobby Sanabria, host of Latin Jazz Cruise, explores that legacy here.

Victor “Vitín” Paz, considered by many to be the greatest lead trumpeter player of the modern era, died on April 3 at his home in Panama City, Panama. He was 89.

Chick Corea accomplished so much, and traced so many paths, in his long career — but to truly understand his artistry, it’s essential to consider his…

Johnny Pacheco, a seminal figure in Cuban-based dance music as it is played in New York City, died on Feb. 15 at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J. He…

Candido Camero, a virtuoso percussionist who had a major hand — or more precisely, two of them — in the development of Afro-Cuban music, died today at his…

In the Afro-Caribbean musical tradition, the essential pulse on the low end can be conjured in a single word, tumbao. But within that word, there are…

Willie Torres, whose bell-like tone and nimble phrasing helped make him one of the most recorded singers in Latin music, died at South Lake Hospital in…