Afro-Cuban Big Band Play-Along for Drumset/Percussion: Drumset Book & Online Audio

McCarthy draws directly from his Grammy-winning ensemble's recorded work, giving drummers access to authentic Afro-Cuban big band grooves played at the highest level. The tracks are stripped of drums and percussion, creating genuine ensemble contexts where soloists engage with professional musicians rather than backing tracks, and the variety of groove and style options lets players develop real facility in the idiom rather than merely reading charts.

Propulsive, sophisticated, and deeply groovy. These charts capture the interplay between African rhythmic complexity and jazz swing, with the full ensemble energy of a big band behind you. Playing along, you're not just keeping time; you're driving the whole machine forward with purpose and precision.

Intermediate to advanced drummers and percussionists who want hands-on experience with Afro-Cuban jazz vocabulary in a big band setting. Players preparing for jazz combos, Latin jazz ensembles, or percussion juries will find this especially valuable, as will educators seeking authentic material for advanced students.

• Listen to the original Caribbean Jazz Project recordings before learning the charts; knowing the intended groove and phrasing will inform your own interpretive choices.
• Experiment with different clave feels and tumbao patterns as McCarthy's notes suggest; the same chart can breathe differently depending on which variation you choose.
• Focus on locking with the bass line during ensemble sections to develop the tight pocket that makes big band Afro-Cuban music swing.
• Use the online audio to try multiple takes on the same chart rather than perfecting one groove and moving on; this builds flexibility and musicianship.

Assign these charts to advanced jazz ensemble drummers as solo study material, or use individual tracks as performance features showcasing your most skilled players. This book also works well as a bridge between concert band percussion sections and jazz ensemble work, introducing players who may be classical-trained to the demands of authentic Latin jazz comping and soloing.

• Afro-Cuban clave patterns and variations in big band context
• Soloing and comping over vamp-based charts
• Locking with bass and horn sections in Latin jazz ensemble
• Listening and responding to ensemble changes in real time
• Groove flexibility: understanding multiple feels for the same chart