Irakere is a Cuban band founded in 1973 by pianist Chucho Valdés, son of Bebo Valdés. They won the GRAMMY® Award for Best Latin Recording in 1980 with their album Irakere. Many of the best Cuban musicians have played in the band during the past decades, they are innovative and use a wide array of percussion instruments.
Irakere 50 is a revival of the legendary Afro-Cuban jazz band. The band's name comes from the Yoruba language and reflects its focus on Afro-Cuban heritage and jazz.
Giving a fusion of rock, jazz, funk and traditional Cuban music Irakere will keep you on your feet. It will be hard to stay seated and not move to the beats.
Reflecting on the idea of a tribute to Irakere, Valdés noted, "It is a great pleasure to have founding members participating in this project, reliving such a special moment for all of us. But it is also inspiring for me to have musicians with us who grew up with Irakere and see how they have taken our work and made it their own."
