Irakere

Date of foundation: 1973
Place of foundation: CUBA

Irakere is a Grammy Award winning  Cuban ensemble founded by the pianist Chucho Valdés in 1973. They are known for their unique sound by using a wide range of percussion instruments, like batá, abacuá and arará drums, chequerés, erikundis, maracas, claves, cencerros, bongó, tumbadoras, and güiro.

Most of the top Cuban jazz musicians have played in the band, like Arturo (Sandoval (trumpeter), Paquito D’Rivera alto saxophone player and flutist) and Oscar Valdés (percussionist). The music of Irakere ranges from Latin jazz to Cuban folk, including Afrocuban elements and Yoruba heritages (music of Orishas: Babalú Ayé, Yemayá). They won the Grammy Award for the “Best Latin Recording” in 1980 with the album Irakere.

Discography:
1974    Grupo Irakere
1976    Chekere
1979    Chekere Son
1979    Irakere
1980    Irakere II
1980    El Coco
1981    Live in Sweden
1983    Calzada Del Cerro
1985    Tierra En Trance
1986    Catalina
1987    The Legendary Irakere in London
1989     Homenaje a Beny Moré
1991    Great Moments
1991    Felicidad
1992    Misa Negra
1995    Bailando Así
1995    Exuberancia
1996    Afrocubanismo! Live!
1996    Great Moments
1996    Irakere en Vivo!
1998    Toda Cuba Baila con Irakere
1998    La Collección Cubana
1999    Indestructible
1999    Babalú Ayé
1999    Yemayá
2001    Pare Cochero
2004    30 Anos
2006    Bacalao Con Pan
2008    The best of Irakere


by Zsuzsa Melkvi
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About the Author: Zsuzsa Melkvi is a salsa dancer and teacher, having competed in Latin-American and Standard dances from 1995-1998. She is also the founder of Baila Cuba (www.bailacuba.hu), a Dance company focused on giving exclusively pure Afro-Cuban workshops in Hungary. Zsuzsa holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Hertfordshire.