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Structure

• The album contains the following four tracks:
  • Oro, Incienso y Mirra - Gold, frankincense and myrrh
  • Calidoscopico - Kaleidoscope
  • Pensativo - Thoughtful
  • Exuberante - Exuberant

Each track follows a similar format to most other jazz records - the main idea is played by the ensemble and then soloists take turns in improvising.

Melody

Jazz records often feature the following qualities:

• melodies are syncopated and repetitive, often with long sustained notes - Pensativo typifies this style in the head melody
• Gillespie’s solos are influenced by bebop and are highly complex
• solos feature a wide range of little repetition, extremely high-pitched notes, very fast rhythms and large leaps, eg the first solo of Oro, Incienso y Mirra.

Rhythm and tempo

The album is rich in Latin rhythms, which can be complex and it is not uncommon for the tempo to change in each new section. Remember:

• the extensive use of African influences cross-rhythms in the percussion section, examples include the percussion break in Pensativo
• the album is founded on a traditional son clave rhythm, as heard in Exuberante

• the tempo ranges from a relaxed andante to presto, eg Oro, Incienso y Mirra begins with a leisurely feel and then bursts into life

Instrumentation

The music has been arranged for a big band of 27 players. The instruments include:

• trumpets
• trombones
• horns
• tubas
• reed instruments
• electric bass
• electric piano
• synthesiser
• the large percussion section comprises of drums, congas, bongos, African drums, timpani and marimba

Timbre

Consider the following points if there is a need to discuss the timbre of Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods:

• Gillespie sometimes uses a trumpet mute to alter the sonority, eg at the opening of Oro, Incienso y Mirra, which creates a tinnier sound
• Gillespie is always the most prominent soloist and the majority of the big band instruments are played as a collective group

Texture

The element points to contemplate are:

• the range of textures are exploited throughout the album with sudden changes helping change the direction and feel of the music
• the main texture of Oro, Incienso y Mirra is polyphonic
• Oro, Incienso y Mirra features the brass section performing a slow melody over which the muted trumpet improvises - this forms melody and accompaniment
• moments of homophonic writing such as the fanfare opening to Oro, Incienso y Mirra

• monophonic texture is implemented in the opening to Exuberante on the double bass
• use of call and response between the big band and Gillespie's trumpet at the beginning of Calidoscopico

Tonality and harmony

The features of these elements include:

• band experimentation with dissonance and is heard throughout the album
• chromatic notes are played in the solos
• melodies and solos use blues notes