Jazz

• Jazz has its roots in the traditional music forms of the African slaves. For example, an African music trait known as call-and-response is evident in jazz music. In call-and-response, the singer sings a certain chorus and the rest of the audience sings back this chorus or another different verse. Jazz also has a strong rhythmic and playful sound, which characterizes African music. European influences are evident in jazz with the use of trumpets and saxophones as well as the genre's emphasis on instrumentation and harmony in music bands.
  
  

Cuban Music

• The music of Cuba also has an equal amount of African and European influences. For example, the son --- a popular dance style in Cuba --- is rooted in traditional Spanish guitar rhythms and African-based percussion methods. The main themes of the son are patriotism and romance, although some songs are socially conscious. Cuban music has also been influenced by the practice of Santeria, an African-derived religion whose practictioners often use fast-paced songs to worship various deities.
  
  

Blues

• The blues also has African and European influences. As for the blues' African influence, it comes primarily from the spirituals slaves sang as a way of coping with the harsh realities of plantation life. In addition, work songs were similar to the spirituals but dealt mostly with post-slavery discrimination and everyday life. The European influence can be found in the use of the harmonica and guitar in blues music.
  
  

Puerto Rican Bomba

• While salsa music is an important part of Puerto Rico's musical heritage, the bomba is another major style of music in Puerto Rico that has both African and European influences. According to National Geographic World Music, the bomba has its roots among the Akan people of Ghana, who were the ancestors of the black population in Puerto Rico. The bomba traditionally consists mainly of heavy drumming and singing, but the European influence came in the mid-20th century with the introduction of piano and horns.