Afro-Cuban · son · 4/4 son-clave

Son montuno (3-2)

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The same C montuno in forward (3-2) clave — bars 3–4 of Levine's fig. 20-20, which he says "repeated over and over, becomes the montuno". Nothing about the figure changes; what changes is where the bar line falls against it.

In 3-2 the first bar is the three side, so the downbeat of bar 1 is tied over from the previous bar — you never attack "one" in an odd-numbered bar after the first time through. The attacked downbeat (the C on beat 1 of bar 2) sits on the two side, and the "& 1" anticipation goes into every even-numbered bar. Levine's rule: *the downbeat of the montuno always occurs on the 2 bar of the clave, the tied-over note on the 3 bar.*

Listen for the loop start: it begins on an "and", which feels wrong until the clave layer is on; then the bar line snaps into place.

Practice: play the 2-3 version, then this one, without stopping the clave. Say the clave out loud ("1 2& 4 | 2 3") while the hands keep the figure; the figure should feel identical, only displaced.

Sources

  • Levine, The Jazz Piano Book, fig. 20-20 (bars 3–4)
  • Scivales, Play Latin Piano Like a Pro, ch. 26 Ex-124-2 (another 3-2 montuno)

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