NOTICE:  SMALL SEAM SPLIT ON THE COVER. PRICE ADJUSTED FOR THAT REASON

Founded in 1973 by Chucho Valdés (son of the Cuban pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdés) Irakere was home to many of Cuba’s finest musicians over the years. With an electrifying style and sound, they mixed traditional Cuban music with jazz, funk, and rock.

This self-titled album includes the much-loved, dancefloor heavy-hitter 'Chequeré-Son’, a Latin-jazz funk masterpiece with Cubanized bebop-flavoured horn lines, lush keys, and ‘70s hip swagger. Though 'Chequeré-Son’ is the keystone of the record, the album is laced with brilliance at every turn, from the Carlos Santana-esque channelling ‘Iya’ with its percussive Latin power, to the sultry, slick and passionate '38 1/2’. Elsewhere, the absorbing, ever-building energy of 'Juana 1600’ and steamy vocal dancer ‘Xiomara’ are also highlights of this incredible album.

PERSONNEL:

Carlos Emilio Morales - (alto sax)
Paquito D'Rivera - (baritone & alto sax, clarinet, flute)
Carlos Averhoff - (soprano & tenor sax, bass clarinet)
Jorge Varona - (trumpet, valve trombone)
Carlos del Puerto - (bass, tuba)
Chucho Valdés - (piano, organ)
Bernardo García - (drums)
Carlos Averhoff - (flute)
Carlos Barbón - (guiro, tamborine)
Carlos Emilio Morales - (guitar)
Bernardo García, Carlos Barbón, Jorge Alfonso, Jorge Varona, Oscar Valdés - (percussion)

TRACKS:

A1. Chekere-Son
A2. 38 1/2
A3. En Nosotros
A4. Juana 1600

B1. Moja El Pan
B2. Este Camino Largo
B3. Xiomara Mayoral-Xiomara
B4. Iya