How do you play with GROOVE?

Journey into Black Music

The Clave!

How do you play with GROOVE?
What does it mean and where does this way of interpreting music and bringing rhythm come from?
We must first trace back to one of the fundamental elements of African American music, which is the Clave. It is a rhythmic pattern of African origin, best known as the foundation of the music of Latin American countries, e.g., Cuba, but not only.

In fact, the clave is widespread, depending on where, centuries ago, the sad deportation of slaves from the African continent to the overseas continent took place. This was how African rhythms gave place to so many different local expressions, think, for example, of samba, bossa nova, the aforementioned Cuban music, all the way to the tradition that is culturally closest even to us Europeans, that which originated in the United States.

More precisely, we are located in New Orleans, a true crossroads of cultures and also a hotbed of much "Creole" music. A fundamental city that moreover has seen also Italian music legacy as an element of musical influence.

So, how do you play with GROOVE? How do you play the clave? Well, don't waste time and start the player below!

Michele Papadia

Campus Blog

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