Irakere
Encyclopedia
Irakere is a Cuba
n band founded by Armando de Sequeira Romeu Music Director
and composer, and by pianist
Chucho Valdés
in 1973. They won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording
in 1980 with their album Irakere.
The group used a wide array of percussion instruments like batá
, abacuá and arará
drums, chequerés
, erikundi
s, maracas, claves
, cencerros, bongó
, tumbadoras, and güiro
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n band founded by Armando de Sequeira Romeu Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and composer, and by pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Chucho Valdés
Chucho Valdés
Chucho Valdés is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. In 1972 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba's best-known Latin jazz bands. Together with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Valdés is revered as one of Cuba's greatest jazz pianists...
in 1973. They won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording
Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording was presented from 1976 to 1983. Starting from 1984 the Latin field was expanded to Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album, Best Tropical Performance and Best Mexican/Mexican American Performance....
in 1980 with their album Irakere.
The group used a wide array of percussion instruments like batá
Bata
Bata or Baťa or Baţa or Batá may refer to:* Bata Shoes , a multinational corporation-Places:* Bat, Afghanistan, a place in Afghanistan* Bata, a commune in Arad County, Romania...
, abacuá and arará
Arará
Arará is a minority group in Cuba , Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean who descend from Fon, Ewe, Popo, Mahi and other ethnic groups in Dahomey...
drums, chequerés
Abwe
An abwe or chekeré is a musical ensemble of Cuba that uses gourds. It is a product of cabildos, historical congregations of African slaves brought to Cuba....
, erikundi
Erikundi
An erikundi is a kind of basket woven maraca, a percussion instrument.It is of African origins....
s, maracas, claves
Claves
Claves are a percussion instrument , consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone),...
, cencerros, bongó
Bongo
Bongo may refer to:In nature:*Bongo , a species of forest antelope from AfricaIn geography:*Bongo Country, the name of several places in Africa*Bongo , Ivory CoastIn entertainment:...
, tumbadoras, and güiro
Güiro
The güiro is a Latin-American percussion instrument consisting of an open-ended, hollow gourd with parallel notches cut in one side. It is played by rubbing a stick or tines along the notches to produce a ratchet-like sound. The güiro is commonly used in Latin-American music, and plays a key role...
.
Discography
- 1974: Grupo Irakere
- 1976: Chekere
- 1979: Chekere Son
- 1979: Irakere
- 1980: Irakere II
- 1980: El Coco
- 1980: Cuba Libre (2010 CD reissue on Far Out RecordingsFar Out RecordingsFar Out Recordings is a UK-based record label specializing is the music of Brazil.The label released a Milton Nascimento performance of two ballets.-Artists:*Aleuda*Antonio Adolfo*Arthur Verocai*Azymuth*Binario*Celia Vaz*Clara Moreno*Danny Wheeler...
) - 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
- 1999: Indestructible
- 2001: Pare Cochero