Irakere
- Type: Band/Group
- Country: Cuba
- Born: 1973 in Havana, Cuba
- Active: 1973 - present
Biography
Irakere is a Cuban jazz band formed in Havana in 1973 by pianist Chucho Valdés with Paquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval. Mixing Afro-Cuban ritual rhythms with jazz and funk, their 1979 album 'Irakere' won a Grammy Award and carried Cuban jazz worldwide. The band remains a flagship of Cuban music and has trained generations of Havana's finest jazz and popular musicians over five decades.
Genres
Irakere Discography
- Grupo Irakere (1976) - Album - rated 4.08/5
- Irakere (1979) - Album - rated 4.03/5
Members
- Chucho Valdés - keyboards (1973–2005)
- Paquito D'Rivera - saxophone, clarinet (1973–1980)
- Arturo Sandoval - trumpet (1977–1981)
- Oscar Valdés - percussion, vocals (1973–1999)
- Carlos del Puerto - bass (1973–1990)
- Enrique Plá - drums (1973–1990)
- Carlos Emilio Morales - guitar (1973–2019)
- Jorge Varona - trumpet (1973–1988)
- Carlos Averhoff - saxophone, flute (1973–1984)
- Jorge Alfonso - congas (1973–1985)
- Armando Cuervo - percussion (1973–1985)