PAQUITO D'RIVERA - Este Camino Largo (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This anthology of saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera's work inside and outside of Irakere in 1978 offers a view of the reedman as he was developing his mature jazz style adapted not only from the folk and dance musics of his native Cuba, but also from postmodern jazz. Among the ten tracks are cuts with Irakere as well as duets with Chucho Valdés, large-band dates (with a big-band date from Finland), and combo dates featuring countryman Arturo Sandoval on trumpet. Highlights include his own "Chikere -- Son," his reading of Valdés' "Juana 1600," and a gorgeous interpretation of Villa-Lobos' "Prelude No. 3."
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1     Este Camino Largo 6:05
Juan Almeida
2     Hasta Siempre 9:39
Carlos Puebla
3     La Canción de los Niños 6:16
Tania Castellanos
4     Ragtime 5:22
Scott Joplin
5     Adagio del Concierto en la Mayor 4:34
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
6     Concierto de Aranjuez 9:51
Joaquín Rodrigo
7     Chekere -- Son 6:53
Paquito D'Rivera
8     Juana 1600 4:57
Chucho Valdés
9     Preludio No. 3 4:36
Heitor Villa-Lobos
10     Misa Negra 13:31
Chucho Valdés
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Paquito D'Rivera
Flute – Carlos Averhoff (faixas: 9)
Guitar – Leo Brouwer (faixas: 4 to 7, 10)
Performer – Irakere (faixas: 4 to 8, 10)
Piano, Keyboards – Chucho Valdés (faixas: 1, 4 to 10)
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval (faixas: 6)

IRAKERE - The Legendary "Irakere" in London (1988-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The premiere Cuban music group Irakere has played Ronnie Scott's club in London regularly since 1985. Their Jazz House CD starts out with a throwaway salsa vocal piece, then has two impressive showcases for German Velazco (one apiece on alto and soprano). "Stella By Stalight" (which in Spanish is "Estella Va A Estallar") is swung hard and the closing, nearly 17-minute rendition of Dave Brubeck's "The Duke" has explosive yet lyrical piano playing by Chucho Valdes and some shouting choruses worthy of the Count Basie Orchestra. Overall this is one of Irakere's jazz recordings that is easily recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Bailando Así 5:46
Chucho Valdés
2     Johana 9:50
Chucho Valdés
3     Estela Va a Estallar 9:29
Ned Washington / Victor Young
4     Las Margaritas 7:45
Chucho Valdés
5     Lo Que Va a Pasar 7:12
Chucho Valdés
6     The Duke 16:54
Dave Brubeck
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Germán Velazco
Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Chorus – José Luis Cortés
Bass, Chorus – Carlos del Puerto
Drums, Percussion – Enrique Plá
Guitar – Carlos E. Morales
Keyboards – Jesus "Chucho" Valdes
Percussion, Vocals – Oscar Valdés
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Carlos Averhoff
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jorge Varona, Juan Munguia 

IRAKERE - Live at Ronnie Scott's (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In Irakere's earlier days, this premiere Cuban group often had to disguise the fact that they were playing imperalistic music from the West (i.e. jazz). Maybe now the masquerade is no longer necessary for the music on this definitive CD would never be mistaken for anything else. Heavily influenced both by Dizzy Gillespie and the rhythms of Cuba and South America, the 11-piece group is in top form interpreting the compositions of its pianist/leader Chuco Valdes (who has a memorable workout on "Mr. Bruce"). Five of the six selections are primaily features for individual players. Throughout this memorable set, the ensemble work is clean and loose, the percussionists keep the proceedings fiery and the soloists are excellent. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Neurosis 12:27
Chucho Valdés
2     Cuando Canta el Corazon (When My Heart Sings) 8:00
Chucho Valdés
3     Mirando Arriba (Looking Up) 7:20
Chucho Valdés
4     Flute Notes 12:58
Chucho Valdés
5     Mr. Bruce 11:40
Chucho Valdés
6     Claudia 8:51
Chucho Valdés
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – César López
Arranged By – Jesus Valdés (faixas: 1 to 6)
Bass – Carlos del Puerto
Composed By – Jesus Valdés (faixas: 1 to 6)
Congas – Miguel "Angá" Díaz
Drums – Enrique Plá
Flute – Orlando "Maraca" Valle
Guitar – Carlos Emilio Morales
Keyboards – Orlando "Maraca" Valle
Percussion – Enrique Plá, Oscar Valdés
Piano – Jesus Valdés
Soprano Saxophone – César López
Tenor Saxophone – Carlos Averhoff
Trumpet – Adalberto Lara, Juan Munguia
Vocals – Oscar Valdés

IRAKERE ft. CHUCHO VALDÉS - Yemayá (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The sudden breakout of Chucho Valdés as a solo artist in North America in 1998 was no doubt the leverage behind the new billing of his band, "Irakere featuring Chucho Valdés," and the large amount of exposure that his piano fireworks get here. The band sometimes doesn't sound all that electrified by the prospect, though ultimately they do take us on a wide-ranging tour of acoustic and electric Latin jazz idioms and grooves. "Mister Bruce" most emphatically features the leader, a tour de force for Valdes who unleashes a torrent of notes (not always coherently) over percussion, bass and drums. "Santa Amalia" is straight ahead Latin jazz with lots of Valdes, hot horn solos and a flourish of vocals at the close, yet for all of its 13 minutes, it doesn't totally ignite. "La Explosión," with quotes from "Love for Sale" near the end, presents a multi-sectioned serpent of funk, bop and mambo -- nothing really fused since the grooves appear in sections -- while "San Francisco" is a fine, barely updated Latin boogaloo. "Son Montuno," which also appears on Valdes' Bele Bele en la Habana solo album, is blown open by some rough rock guitar, the old freewheeling Irakere spirit at work. Though Yemayá has its big moments, Valdés seems to have saved his most heated inspirations of the late '90s for his own solo work. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist :
1     Yemaya 7:27
Chucho Valdés
2     Mister Bruce 9:47
Chucho Valdés
3     Santa Amalia 13:01
Chucho Valdés
4     La Explosion 8:15
Chucho Valdés
5     San Francisco 4:12
Chucho Valdés
6     Son Montuno 6:00
Tito Puente / Chucho Valdés
7     Chorrino 6:55
Chucho Valdés
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – César López
Bass – Carlos del Puerto
Congas – Andrés Miranda
Drums [Trap Drums], Tabla – Enrique Plá
Guitar – Carlos Emilio Morales
Piano, Composed By, Arranged By – Chucho Valdés
Producer – Chucho Valdés, René López
Solo Vocal – Mayra Caridad Valdés (faixas: 1)
Tenor Saxophone – Alfredo Thompson
Timbales – José Miguel Meléndez
Trumpet – Basilio Márquez, Mario Fernández 

IRAKERE - Bacalao Con Pan (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Capturing a period between 1974 and 1985, in what was arguably Irakere's heyday, after they had developed a strong stylistic voice, and before the direction of jazz fusion changed significantly in the '90s, Bacalao con Pan, a collection from the Escondida label, is an excellent showcase for some of Irakere's B-sides and lesser-known gems, with a few dance hits thrown in for good measure. Seldom will one find a disc with such diverse selections as the intelligent and rare guitar composition "Romance" alongside name-brand Irakere hits like "Aguanile Bonko." Escondida did a fantastic job of organizing a pleasing and original playlist. Even Irakere enthusiasts might find themselves saying, "I've never heard that before." It's important to note that it would be hard to make these Cuban legends sound bad, but the flow on Bacalao con Pan is particularly excellent. There is an even balance between their famous raw, live presence and more polished-sounding studio material. Similarly, there is an almost even split between big-production, crowd-pleasing vocal numbers and the compositionally sophisticated tunes that won the heart of the jazz world. This record would be an excellent introduction to Irakere in their prime. by Evan C. Gutierrez  
Tracklist :
1     Valle de Picadura 4:57
Chucho Valdés
2     Romance (Juegos Prohibidos) 4:18
Leo Brower
3     Aguanile Bonkó 4:43
Chucho Valdés
4     La Semilla 4:33
Chucho Valdés
5     Calzada del Cerro 6:57
Chucho Valdés
6     Santiaguera 7:04
Oscar Valdés
7     Bailando Así 6:12
Manolo del Valle
8     Siete Tazas de Café 7:39
Chucho Valdés
9     Taka Takata 3:14
Al Veriane         
10     Este Camino Largo 6:49
Juan Almeida
11     Bacalao Con Pan 3:46
Raul Valdes
12     Rucu Rucu a Santa Clara 7:51
Jose Luis Cortes       
13     La Verdad 3:53
Oscar Valdés

IRAKERE - Misa Negra (1987-1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Irakere has been heralded as one of the best big bands in the world. Propelled by a driving rhythm section and potent horn section, this Cuban band won the Latin Grammy Awards in 1979 and 1980. On this 1986 recording, the band sinks its collective teeth into a few originals, including the 17-minute, four-part title track, as well as a cover of Dave Brubeck's "El Duke." In his liner notes, Luis Tamargo states: "The vigor of Irakere lies within each individual performer, and there are no weak loops in the band's musical chain." by Roundup Newsletter
Tracklist:
1 Concierto para Metales 8:47
2 Misa Negra 17:05
3 Samba para Enrique 6:08
4 El Duke 8:54
Credits:
Bass – Carlos del Puerto
Congas – Jorge Alfonso
Drums – Enrique Plá
Guitar – Carlos Emilio Morales
Percussion – Oscar Valdes
Piano, Keyboards – Chucho Valdés
Saxophone, Flute – Carlos Averhoff, Germán Velazco, José Luis Cortés
Strings – Stuttgarter Symphoniker (tracks: 2)
Trumpet – Jorge Varona, Juan Mungula