Password of the Week
Clave Rhythm
Password of the week
September 15th - September 19th, 2026
#whatsthesecretpassword
September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and this week’s password honors the revolutionary contribution this Afro-Cuban beat gave to jazz, blues, R&B, and almost any modern music genre: the Clave Rhythm.
With its roots in Western Africa, the clave rhythm made its way to Cuba and eventually America, where it became a staple of salsa, rumba, mambo, cha cha and eventually gave birth to CuBop in NYC in the 1940s.
The clave rhythm entered American jazz and blues through a mix of geography, migration, and direct artistic collaboration, transforming standard Western music into new, syncopated grooves. This cross-cultural exchange happened across decades and genres, from old school jazz and blues to contemporary rock, rap, and R&B.
In New Orleans, early jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton famously noted that jazz could not exist without a "Spanish tinge"—which was actually the Afro-Cuban son/habanera clave rhythm. Meanwhile, African-American musicians in New Orleans took the traditional military brass band 4/4 march structure and layered these Caribbean-style clave rhythms and syncopated accents over it, fundamentally shifting the emphasis away from rigid downbeats onto the syncopated upbeats.
The "Father of the Blues," W.C. Handy, visited Cuba in 1903 and having been inspired by the driving, syncopated rhythm he heard, explicitly incorporated the habanera/clave rhythm into the opening instrumental section of his 1914 masterpiece, "St. Louis Blues.”
The informal blending of styles and incorporation of the clave rhythm into mainstream music turned into an explicit, structured musical movement in New York City during the 1940s, giving birth to Afro-Cuban Jazz (or Cubop).
The clave rhythm can be heard in Duke Ellington’s "Caravan,” co-written by Puerto Rican trombonist Juan Tizol. Dizzy Gillespie’s "Manteca," alternates between a strict Afro-Cuban clave groove and a standard American walking jazz swing, as this song was co-written with percussionist Chano Pozo, master of the clave rhythm.
Enjoy the revolutionary impact of the clave rhythm in the videos on our password page or in person during our live performances at Whisperz Speakasy, especially as we welcome Rolando Matias Trio on Thursday, September 17th and RLJQ Afro-Cuban Jazz Band on Friday, September 25th!
Clave Rhythm
It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month and we’re honoring this Afro-Cuban signature that revolutionized modern music. With its roots in Western Africa, this beat system made its way to Cuba and eventually America, where it influences many modern musical genres.
Manteca by Dizzy Gillespie & Chano Pozo - Considered the definitive blueprint for Cubop. Chano Pozo’s conga slap introduces the layered groove, and the underlying son clave pattern acts as the explicit anchor guiding the entire brass section's syncopated hits.
Santana - Smooth ft. Rob Thomas This modern day hit features an unmistakable 2-3 son clave feel played by the rhythm section and percussion.
Tanga by Machito - Considered by many historians to be the very first true Cubop / Afro-Cuban jazz track. It features a fierce, driving 2-3 mambo clave framework that remains incredibly loud and clear throughout the jazz arrangements.
Every week before we open on Tuesday at 6pm, we set a new password of the week! Sometimes they’re historical, sometimes they’re musical, sometimes they highlight our upcoming events — but no matter the password, everyone is welcome and its all in good fun!
View our carefully curated menu of delectable small plates, delicious handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, exquisite wine & spirits selection, specialty teas and coffees and fabulous, mouth-watering desserts.
Delectable Small Plates
carefully curated for seasonal freshness and absolute enjoyment
Mouth-Watering Desserts
fabulous, mouth-watering desserts to accompany the perfect spot of tea, coffee, or nightcap
Delicious Handcrafted Cocktails
cocktails & mocktails handcrafted with house-made syrups & aromatics from The Cocktail Apothecary
Dress Code
In keeping with the speakeasy ambiance we do enforce a dress code: business casual through evening elegance. May we suggest slacks, a collared shirt, sweaters, vests, ties, jackets, suits, dresses, skirts, blouses, and blazers as preferred attire.
Connect With Us
In the News & On the Web
Excerpts from blogs, news articles, and YouTube giving you a glimpse into the elegant atmosphere at Whisperz Speakeasy. We hope you’ll enjoy this hard-to-find, one-of-a-kind experience.
“If you’re looking for a unique speakeasy experience in Dayton, Whisperz Speakeasy is the perfect spot. Make sure you know the password and enter through the secret entrance for a fantastic evening of cocktails and music.”
“Had a fantastic mocktail with me and my friends. The espresso martini was superb. Cindy and Tabbi were great bartenders and host. This is a super nice speak easy. The lighted counter tops are so cool. They had live music on the Weds I went. They do have a dress code, so make sure you're coming to impress. Vibes are unmatched”
-Adam Holmes
“Since opening its doors in 2025, Whisperz has transformed “from a vision of vintage charm into a premiere destination for those seeking an exclusive sanctuary of bygone elegance...”
RLJQ Afro-Cuban Jazz Band live at Whisperz Speakeasy
Kerry Kennard Trio live at Whisperz Speakeasy