Latin Jazz Drum Beats For Jazz Drummers

Click to watch.

One-time payment for lifetime course access.

Play all the Latin Jazz drum beats used in real Jazz tunes!

Latin Jazz Drumming Course

Write your awesome label here.
This course teaches the most important Latin Jazz drum beats and rhythms in Jazz drumming.

You'll learn:
  • Mambo
  • Rumba
  • Cha-Cha-Cha
  • Guaguancó
  • Songo
  • Bolero
  • Mozambique
  • Bembé
  • 9/8 (3/4) Afro-Cuban
  • Demonstrations and feel practice
  • Drum fills
  • Choosing the right clave
  • Recommended listening
  • And tons more!

    By the end of the course you'll be able to play all of these grooves in real music situations!
Course Overview
Learn the Latin Jazz drum beats every Jazz drummer should know.
From Art Blakey to Elvin Jones, these are the classic grooves the masters used and now you can too.

These are the essential Latin Jazz drum beats that show up on real gigs and in the music we play. If you're learning Jazz drumming, this is the stuff you need in your toolbox.

  • Drum Lessons Video: 3.5 hours
  • Drum Lessons: 12
  • "Sound Check" Playing Tests: 10
  • Instructor Playing Examples: 10
  • 10-Page PDF Download
  • Drum Practice Tracks: 32
  • Lessons In 9 Languages:
    English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 한국어, 日本語

Play the Grooves Every Jazz Drummer Needs to Know

Want to add those spicy, authentic Latin Jazz drum beats to your playing? This course is all about helping you sound great when the band calls a tune with an Afro-Cuban or Latin vibe.

From Mambo to Songo, Cha-Cha-Cha, Guaguancó, and more you’ll learn the exact Latin grooves for Jazz that pros use on real gigs.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, we go deep into the Afro-Cuban drum beats and Latin drumming techniques that shaped Jazz. If you’re playing with a singer, instrumental band, or just laying down some tasty Latin Jazz rhythms, you’ll be ready.

You’ll master these essential grooves:
 • Mambo
 • Cha-Cha-Cha
 • Rumba
 • Guaguancó
 • Songo
 • Bolero
 • Mozambique
 • Bembé
 • 9/8 Afro-Cuban (or 3/4 clave)
 • Useful drum fills and transitions
 • How to choose the right clave for drummers
 • Groove application tips and listening recommendations

You’ll have a complete set of Latin drum beats for Jazz gigs and know when and how to use them.

What Are Latin Jazz Drum Beats?

Latin Jazz drum beats come from a fusion of West African rhythms and Cuban music traditions. The styles we often call “Latin” in Jazz usually fall into two families:
 1. Afro-Cuban (like Mambo, Songo, Rumba)
 2. Brazilian (like Bossa Nova, Samba taught in my Brazilian Drumming Course)

In this course, we focus on the Afro-Cuban grooves that have become must-know rhythms in the world of Jazz drumming.

Learn the Latin Beats You’ll Actually Use

Ever been on a gig where someone called out, “Let’s play this tune in 6/8 Afro-Cuban,” or mentioned a 3:2 Son Clave? That used to freak me out too.


But now, you’ll know exactly what to do. We’ll walk through how to feel these grooves, not just play the notes — so your drumming locks in with the music and feels authentic.

This course will build your confidence and give you the Latin Jazz drum patterns you can actually use on stage.

Who This Course Is For?

This course is ideal if you’re:

  • A Jazz drummer looking to add Afro-Cuban Latin drum beats to your toolkit
  • Unsure about when to use Son clave vs. Rumba clave
  • Wanting to play authentic Latin Jazz rhythms with real feel
  • Ready to take your drum set Latin rhythms to the next level

If you’re intermediate or advanced or even just getting into Latin drumming, this course will give you the tools and clarity to groove naturally.

Why I Made This Course

I created this course to save you from the “deer-in-the-headlights” feeling I used to get on gigs. I’ve played with folks like Stanley Jordan, Benny Golson, and Eddie Henderson and Latin grooves came up a lot. Knowing the right Afro-Cuban rhythms for Jazz drummers helped me lock in with bands, get more gigs, and just enjoy the music more.


Now I’m passing all that on to you in a way that’s relaxed, easy to follow, and actually fun.

Affordable, Lifetime Access

Pay once and get lifetime access to everything in the course.

Or join with a Monthly Groove Pass and access all my courses (including this one!) for one low monthly price.

Start Playing Latin Jazz Drum Beats Today

If you’re ready to groove with authenticity, expand your Jazz vocabulary, and play with more confidence on every gig, this is the course for you.


See you inside!

One-time payment for lifetime course access.

PREVIEW THE COURSE

Here's the lesson on Cha Cha Cha.  Learn 9 more important Latin Jazz drum beats, drum fills and download the PDF's and practice tracks for your Jazz drumming inside the course. 

Click on the "CC" in the video screen to select your language. 
Write your awesome label here.

Jazz Drums Total Lessons Pack

From clueless to gig-ready! Start from scratch and groove your way up to advanced Jazz drumming. Grab all my courses to go from your first beat to stealing the show! 

Includes the Latin Jazz Drumming course! 
Write your awesome label here.

Get Better Faster

Practice Apps to improve your time and feel, build a strong internal pulse, comp and solo better.

  • Make your playing feel more relaxed
  • Stop second guessing your timing
  • Improve your solo timing and creativity
  • Comp with more confidence
  • Play better with other musicians

Get this course and all 16 of my courses + 5 Drum Practice Apps

All Access YouTube Membership

The Latin Jazz Drum Beats Lessons

The essential Latin Jazz drum beats every Jazz drummer needs to know!
  1. INTRO AND BRAZILIAN 16THS - 08:17
  2. MAMBO SON & RUMBA CLAVE + BONUS GROOVE - 23:59
  3. 2-3 SON CLAVE - SOUND CHECK - 07:01
  4. 3-2 RHUMBA CLAVE - SOUND CHECK - 05:18
  5. 2:3 MAMBO SON CLAVE PERFORMANCE - 01:37
  6. 3:2 MAMBO RHUMBA CLAVE PERFORMANCE - 01:52
  7. CHA-CHA-CHA - 09:55
  8. CHA CHA CHA - SOUND CHECK - 06:04
  9. CHA-CHA-CHA PERFORMANCE 1 - 01:41
  10. CHA-CHA-CHA PERFORMANCE 2 - 00:45
  11. GUAGUANCO - 05:20
  12. GUAGUANCO - SOUND CHECK - 06:13
  13. GUAGUANCO PERFORMANCE - 01:39
  14. SONGO - 04:45
  15. SONGO SOUND CHECK - 06:03
  16. SONGO PERFORMANCE - 00:33
  17. BOLERO - 08:14
  18. BOLERO - SOUND CHECK - 7:48
  19. BOLERO PERFORMANCE - 04:41
  20. MOZAMBIQUE-MAMBO HYBRID GROOVE - 7:07
  21. MOZAMBIQUE-MAMBO - SOUND CHECK - 5:24
  22. MOZAMBIQUE PERFORMANCE - 05:54
  23. BEMBÉ - 10:14
  24. BEMBÉ SOUND CHECK - 07:48
  25. BEMBÉ PERFORMANCE - 00:45
  26. 9/8 OR 3/4 AFRO-CUBAN - 10:24
  27. 9/8 OR 3/4 AFRO-CUBAN SOUND CHECK - 05:59
  28. 9/8 OR 3/4 AFRO-CUBAN PERFORMANCE - 01:49
  29. DRUM FILLS - 08:13
  30. DRUM FILLS SOUND CHECK - 11:28
  31. CHOOSING THE CORRECT CLAVE AND CONNECTING TO THE MUSIC - 14:14
  32. LISTENING RECOMMENDATIONS - 03:50

Course reviews

I recently completed the Afro-Cuban Latin drum set course by Von Baron.  As someone who's been playing drums for several years, I was looking for a course that could help me expand my Latin drumming skills. This course did not disappoint.
Christoph M.
The rhythms and independence were challenging, but Von made it fun. I feel like I've expanded my musical horizons and gained a new appreciation for Latin drumming.
Ben C.

Von Baron

Jazz drummer, educator, composer

About YOUR TEACHER

Performing regularly on stage and in the recording studio for 40 years, Von Baron is one of the busiest drummers in Japan. 

Playing with Stanley Jordan, Benny Golson, Eddie Henderson, Geoff Keezer and many others gave Von the opportunity to hone his Jazz drumming skills. 

It's with this real world experience, Von created this course to give you a solid foundation for your Jazz drumming.
Copyright © 2026  
Kobe, Japan

FAQ's & HELP

Legal

Social

Jazz Drum School is based in Japan and serves students worldwide.
Created with