Customer Reviews

The Latin Beat: The Rhythms and Roots of Latin Music, from Bossa Nova to Salsa and Beyond

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First, I am basing my poor review mainly on the sections on Brazilian music, which are a significant part of this book.
Contrary to the Editorial review stating Mr. Morales' "incredible depth of historical and musical knowledge" I found the author's lack of knowledge of some of the more basic elements of Brazilian history and music culture downright ingnorant.
As an example of some of the minute details that may seem insignificant, the famous pre-lenten Carnaval celebrations are not "winter" celebrations since the entire southern hemishphere has opposite seasons from North America. In other more significant areas, the migration of laborers from the north was not due to the "failure of northern coffee plantations" as the coffee regions were all part of southern Brazil. A basic reading of any decent history of Brazil, such as Skidmore's "Five Centuries of Change" would have taken care of such innaccuracies.
Erroneous uses of traditional instrument names and the reference of samba as "a call to wild, mass movement, an (...) of percussion, not the structured rhythmic base for improvisation that came from the fusions of African rhythms and courtly European dances in Cuba...samba is more like 'chaos in tempo'" reek of the typical non-Latin view from insensitive writers who knew little about Latin American culture. It is surprising that a latino, especially in 2003, would be subscribing to the exoticism that permeated the work of scholars (and non-cholars) from the early 20th century.
The author uses no citations, although he does include a rather short bibliography of sources. Perhaps the auhtor should have focused on the music and history of the parts of Latin America that he is more familiar with, rather than attempt to be all-emcompassing at the risk of demonstrating such utter lack of basic historical and musical knowledge of Brazil.

This is a good, basic overview of Latin music, heavy on the Cuban/Puerto Rican scenes past and present. It is unfortunately marred by naive, right-wing political comments that fit pretty well into the George Bush I and II's view of Latino realities. But for those 'cumbancheros' who look beyond the politics there is lots of info here. For Cuban music, however, one might be better served by the bargain 'Cuban Music' by Phil Sweeney or by the erudite works by Fernando Ortiz.

This book is so badly written and full of errors and misconceptions that it should be banned, this should be used on how NOT to write a book. One star is way too high a rating...............

Also I have some friends who are espanol and some friends from Brazil. Not only are the languages very different but so is the music; anyway my two types of friends refuse to associate if i invite them to my house together so I think Mr Morales may be forgiven for not understanding Brazil. Brazil is a very special country unto itself.
Also I didn't read it for political history or festival information but I learned alot about Caifanes, Mana, Soda Stereo, Cafe Tacuba, Los Tres, even Juanes and La Ley! which was most delightful and unexpected! Did you know Juanes is the son of a rancher?