Irakere

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Irakere (Yoruba for "vegetation") is a Cuban band founded by pianist Chucho Valdés in 1973 that won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording in 1980 with its album Irakere. The original members of the band were Chucho Valdes (piano and conducron), Paquito D'Rivera (alto saxophone and flute), Oscar Valdes (percussion and vocals), Carlos Puerto (bass), Carlos Emilio (guitar), Jorge Varone (trumpet), Tato Alfonso (percussion) and Bernardo Garcia (drums). Its later members included flautist José Luis Cortés who later founded NG La Banda, percussionist Anga Díaz, who later went to France; percussionist Fran Padilla, who later moved to Spain; saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, who left Irakere and Cuba in 1980 during a tour in Spain before moving to the United States; and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who went to the US in 1990.

The group used a wide array of percussion instruments like batá, abacuá and arará drums, chequerés, erikundis, maracas, claves, cencerros, bongó, tumbadoras, and güiro.

Irakere's song "Anunga Nunga" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The song has been erroneously titled "Aguanile", even in the Vice City booklet and soundtrack. Other songs of theirs, "Bacalao Con Pan" and "Baila Mi Ritmo" (with Chucho Valdez) were featured on the soundtrack of the 2006 video game, Scarface: The World is Yours.

[edit] Discography

  • 1979 Chekere Son
  • 1980 El Coco
  • 1985 Tierra En Trance
  • 1987 The Legendary Irakere in London
  • 1989 Homenaje a Beny Moré
  • 1991 Great Moments
  • 1991 Felicidad - live at Ronnie Scott's Club
  • 1992 Misa Negra
  • 1995 Bailando Así
  • 1999 Indestructible
  • 2001 Pare Cochero
  • Rare LPs recorded in direct on Caracas alongside Alberto Naranjo & El Trabuco Venezolano:Alberto_Naranjo#Discography
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