mambos

Mambos refer to a dance and a style of music associated with the mambo genre, a fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and big-band jazz that originated in Cuba in the 1930s and 1940s. The term is used for both the dance and the instrumental music that accompanies it, characterized by a lively, syncopated feel and a strong rhythm section built on the clave.

The mambo developed from son and guaracha in Cuba and gained international prominence in the 1940s–1950s. In Cuba, Pérez Prado helped popularize it with upbeat instrumental pieces; in New York, Machito, Tito Puente, and their groups expanded its reach into Latin jazz and the early salsa movement.

Musically, mambo features horn sections, piano montuno, bass, and percussion (congas, timbales, bongos) with a clave-based rhythm. The dance emphasizes quick footwork, hip motion, and spins, performed to a four-beat rhythm with syncopated accents.

In the US, the mambo influenced salsa and Latin jazz; many communities continue to perform traditional Cuban-mambo and modern salsa styles.

Iconic pieces include Pérez Prado's Mambo No. 5, which helped popularize the genre.