The Cuban group Irakere burst into American jazz fans' consciousness in 1979. Since then there have been notable defections--trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, saxophonists Paquito D'Rivera and Carlos Averhoff--and departures--flutist Orlando "Maraca" Valle and reedman and arranger Jose Luis Cortes organized their own bands. Still, anchored by pianist, arranger, and leader Jesus "Chucho" Valdés, Irakere remains the premier jazz group in Cuban music. This 12-song collection is a fair introduction to the sound of group--especially of the early lineup. (Don't count on help from the liner notes. They offer no information about the years of the recordings or who plays on which piece.) That's Sandoval in the still-breathtaking "Juana 1600," a powerful mix of Afro-Cuban percussion tradition and jazz; and that's D'Rivera outrageously fluid and inventive, playing soprano on "Las Margaritas" and clarinet on "Adagio," his take on Mozart's concerto for flute. You get the idea. This is a serviceable but unexceptional introduction to one of the great groups in contemporary jazz. --Fernando Gonzalez
La Coleccion Cubana,Irakere,Music Club,Afro-Cuban Jazz,Cuba,Cuban,Jazz,Latin,Latin Jazz,World Music
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- Nearness of You [Import]
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Bounce [Extra tracks] [Import]
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