Why Mambo?
What is Mambo? Is it a new thing? Is it the same as salsa? Or the same as NY-style?
To answer the question completely will take a long time. I will try not to elaborate too much and still not give a generic answer. So please bare with me.
History of Mambo
Nothing is created out of nothing but a common opinion adressess Israel López “Cachao” and Antonio Arcaño as the innovators of Mambo sometime during the late 1930s. It was a development of the at the time popular music Danzón. At first it was just a section in the Danzón, introducing the African rhythm Tumbao and borrowing elements from the Son Montuno, but later evolved as its own genre.
The migration of Mambo
During the late 1940s musicians traveled for better work opportunities. Pérez Prado made a huge success in Mexico where he created his own version of Mambo with influences from jazz with bigger horn sections and higher tempo. This with an explosive sense of showmanship was a winning concept. Benny Moré who started as a singer in his band, later returned to Havanna and became a star of his own.
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As mambo arrived in New York at about the same time, bands started arising in the form of the jazz big bands but with the afro-cuban rhythms. Soon the success was a fact and three bands leaders rose above others. The cuban born Machito, Puertorican Tito Rodriguez and the Puertorican descendant Tito Puente became the headlines at the Palladium ballroom in New York, which became the in place for everyone including black, latin and white young Americans. There they could listen to these explosive big-bands and dance their worries away. Celebrities were often seen there as well. This was still during a time when America was extremely segregated. The palladium also became very important for the development of Mambo as a dance as the best dancers got fame and got to appear on tv etc. Eventually the Palladium got closed down. The official reason was because of a drug raid, but many speculate that it had a do with its multi racial nature.
The Mambo paved way to what later became Salsa. Not only commercial but also through other musical developments like the Cha cha cha. The story goes that in the early 1950s, Cuban musician and composer Enrique Jorrín noticed that many of the dancers at these gigs had difficulty with the syncopated rhythms of the Danzón-mambo. To make his music more appealing to dancers, Jorrín began composing songs where the melody was marked strongly on the first downbeat and the rhythm was less syncopated. It was noticed that the dancers had improvised a triple step in their footwork producing the sound "cha-cha-cha".
But where is Mambo today?
Well, we can of course see the impact of Mambo in the evolution of Salsa. Some will call it Mambo as soon as it includes a Vibraphone That is not correct in my opinion. Neither is the assumption that NY-style salsa dance equals Mambo.
There are distinguishable differences in the composition of classic Mambo and Salsa. I will link a video where my good friend Gabriel talks about some of them. Today Mambo is mostly used as a part of a Salsa song. Much like it was originally invented.
We can still find plenty of teachers carrying the legacy by teaching the steps and shines that where invented and performed by the legendary dancers of the palladium era. One of the most famous teachers is Eddie Torres. However his own style, called NY-style, is not the same as the Mambo that was danced at the Palladium. A lot of people call it Mambo and in a way you could argue that it is an evolution of Mambo. However there is a distinct difference. Maybe the easiest one to spot is the timing. Both styles uses the 2nd and 6th beat to break the step or change direction but NY-style steps on the beats 123 567 and Palladium Mambo steps on the beats 234 678. Now thats only the timing and timing isn’t everything. It’s also about the style. NY-style is ment to be danced in a smooth way, where in Mambo you emphasize on the Tumbao, clave and the syncopations in the music.
The difference between Salsa and Mambo
Mambo today
However today it makes no sense to be a purist. As dancers we are not restricted to only dance in one way. We are all Salseros and you should develop your own style based on a broad knowledge of many styles. If you call yourself a Mambo dancer and don’t know the basics and fundamentals of the classic Mambo dance and to some extent the music… well, confusions are bound to happen. Personally I don’t make a judgment of what style or timing is superior or the more pure one. I enjoy dancing most styles of salsa. Of course i can enjoy some more than others because i’m more technically comfortable in them or because of my preference in music. But I find it always useful and relevant to be able to choose style according to the music or my partner than to be stuck with one style. Allow yourself always to be a student. Even if you are a teacher to others. You’ll do yourself a favour.
I will leave you with a video with Gabriel, a friend and musician from Puerto Rico, where he explains how parts of the rhythm section changes between Salsa and Mambo. Off camera he also explained that today we call a section in the salsa song the Mambo and how they sometimes choose to use the “mambo rhythms”.
I’ll also leave a link to a video about Mambo and the Palladium.