The Latin jazz music I heard from Suzzette was very different than the Black Gospel music we were learning about in class from Charles Tindley, but they do have some similarities. Unlike Black Gospel, Latin jazz isn’t ceremonial or based on prayers or a text, and it utilizes more instruments compared to Black Gospel which mostly utilizes the voice. Their sounds are also not very similar, with Latin jazz tending to be fast-paced and made for dancing, while Black Gospel music tends to be slower and more emotional. However, both of these genres are meant to connect people, specifically minority groups. One genre functions to connect people through religion and one connects people through culture, but both bond people through the shared experience of music. They also both allow for improvisation during performances. Although Black Gospel rose from cultural erasure while Latin jazz rose from the combination of cultures, both relate to creating a community.
When considering power, race, diversity, and identity when related to this performance, the genre of Latin jazz must be brought up. Latin jazz is a genre that combines jazz, music born out of the African American experience, and combines it with Latin American music elements. At its core, jazz is about self-expression and freedom. When combined to form Latin jazz, it takes on the added meaning of connecting two minority groups and providing a space for both of them. Latin jazz is a cultural music, and there’s power and celebration in its survival and the survival of the people it represents in the face of discrimination and racism. This music and the ability to freely play it and embrace it is connected to the freedom of Black people in America and the freedom of minority groups to express themselves. It’s also important to mention that Suzzette is an immigrant from Puerto Rico, so this music is part of her culture that she shares with others. There’s also the added power to her music of survival and success despite the hardships that immigrants face in the United States.
