“Irakere” a.k.a. “Live at Newport and Montreux Jazz Festival”, recorded in 1978 and winning the Latin Grammy Award in 1979, does an excellent job of showing the group’s enormous range. 
 
The press reviews that appeared in The New York Times, San Francisco Examiner and Billboard were very enthusiastic about Irakere - wondering if they were playing ‘Latin-Jazz-Rock'’, '’Latin-Fusion’' or '’Salsa-Fusion’.
 
There's sophisticated, but pulse-pounding, dance music: the mini-suite "Juana 1600"; "Aguanile Bonkó," a brilliant, high-energy blend of santería and funk. There's Latin jazz (Sandoval's "Iyá," where the horns get to show their stuff). A 17-minute performance of the multi-movement "Misa Negra," probably the single most important Valdés composition, and a jazz take on a Mozart clarinet "Adagio".

The 1970s line-up with Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera and Arturo Sandoval finds Irakere at their most creative and vital.


Irakere

Live at Newport and Montreux Jazz Festival

1978


   CD / 320Kbps


Tracklist:

1. Juana 1600

2. Ilyá

3. Adagio on a Mozart Theme

4. Misa Negra (Black Mass)

5. Aguanile Bonkó


Recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in June/July 1978


Irakere:

Piano – Chucho Valdés 

Saxophone – Carlos Averhoff, Paquito D'Rivera

Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval, Jorge Varona 

Guitar – Carlos Emilio Morales
 
Bass – Carlos del Puerto
 
Drums – Enrique Plá
 
Percussion – Jorge Alfonso
 
Vocals – Armando Cuervo, Oscar Valdés 



Note:
 
Brilliant CD, but it’s a counterfeited reissue of the LP “Irakere” (CBS JC 35655) of unknown origin. 

There is no official CD-release yet.
 
Despite it all, great sound.
 
Highly recommended