With its fiery mix of Afro-Cuban religious music, Cuban popular styles, and jazz, the Cuban group Irakere stunned the jazz world with their United States debut in 1978. It helped that the group included virtuosos such as cofounder, pianist, and composer Jesus "Chucho" Valdés, who still resides in Havana, alongside trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and reedmen Paquito D'Rivera and Carlos Averhoff, since defected. Despite the title (part of a series that also includes NG La Banda and Los Van Van) this is not a dance music compilation--although Irakere can be a killer dance band. And while there have been a dozen changes in the lineup and the selection includes early recordings that sound suspiciously like D'Rivera and Sandoval no information is provided about personnel. This is a quirky, poorly packaged set that includes originals as well as music by Scott Joplin (yes, the music from The Sting), Arsenio Rodriguez, Mozart (which sounds like D'Rivera), and Ernesto Lecuona. The highlights are Valdés's own "Estela Va A Estallar" (his reading of "Stella by Starlight"), the spectacular Juana 1600 and the luxuriant Black Mass. A serviceable rather than indispensable set. --Fernando Gonzalez
Toda Cuba Baila con Irakere,Irakere,Max Music,Afro-Cuban Jazz,Cuba,Cuban,Jazz,Latin,Latin Jazz,Latin Music
Latin Music:
- Unchained Force [Import]
- Vaya Puente [Import]
- Voz Romantica De [Import]
- Y Parece Bobo [Import]
- Za Za Za Caballo Que Mas le Trote
- 14 Exitos de Coleccion
- A A Rumbiar: Let's Party!
- Bailando USA, Vol. 2
- Banda del Amor
- Birthday Party [Import]
Latin Music
Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Grieg
Remember Me [CD-single] [Import]
Por Inteiro E O Quase Tudo [Import]
Recollections [Original recording remastered] [Import]