As a general introduction to Afro-Latin music here's another excerpt from http://www.texasbandmasters.org/EdResources/TBMR/2006Jun/tbmr-06-2006-Diaz1.cfm :

"The jazz ensemble is the best vehicle to work with students in the area of Afro-Latin rhythms. In recent years the amount of published charts in the area of Afro-Latin jazz, or Latin Jazz as it is more commonly called, has increased tremendously. Although there is great information on performance practices of Afro-Latin music, many compositions do not say specifically what Afro-Latin style or rhythm is needed.

The following is a brief suggestion that can be used to develop an understanding of cha-cha and mambo which are the most popular of the Afro-Latin rhythms used in jazz ensemble music.

The most popular of these rhythms used in Latin Jazz are cha-cha and mambo. In order to understand these Cuban developed rhythms, one must develop an understanding of clave. Clave is a two-bar rhythmic pattern that occurs in two forms: forward clave also known as 3-2 and reverse clave, also known 2-3. In 3-2 clave, or forward clave, the accents fall on the first beat, the "and" of the second beat, and the fourth beat of the first bar, and beats two and three of the second measure. In 2-3, or reverse clave, the pattern is inverted. There is also another clave called the rumba clave. In the rumba clave, the last note in the "3" bar of the rumba clave is delayed a half beat and played on the "and" of the fourth beat. Every component of Afro-Cuban rhythm - drum pattern, piano montuno, bass lines, melodic phrasing, and horn lines - has to be in sync with clave...

Styles in Afro-Latin music are sometimes interchanged adding variety to the music. This creates a sort of tension and release within a given tune. For example, a composition may start as a Bolero for sixteen or thirty-two measures and change into Salsa or Samba. Styles are interchanged with discretion. Many mixes are made as intros, interludes, verse or body of a tune, or as an ending section within a piece. Four, eight or sometimes sixteen measures at a time are incorporated and usually done once or twice within a section to add some spice.

A few common groove mixes include:

1.Salsa with a quasi-Samba section and/or ending
2.Bolero with a quasi-Samba or Bossa Nova ending
3.Salsa with a Bomba section
4.Bolero that segues into Salsa
5.Salsa with a Guaguanco intro and/or interlude
6.Salsa with a Rap or Reggaeton section
7.Merengue with a Rap section

Conclusion
This article is very brief introduction to the style of "Latin Jazz." In short, this genre began as a style of playing bebop lines over a Latin groove. This medium will continue to evolve and intensify as more artists probe deeper into the great wealth of Latin music. In order to develop a better understanding of "Latin Jazz," as with any style, one must listen to recordings, watch live performances, and study the art form. "