{"title":"Ray Barretto","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRay Barretto was an American conga player, drummer, percussionist, bandleader, composer and producer. He was a highly sought-after session musician for prestigious labels such as Prestige, Blue Note, Riverside and Columbia. Ray Barretto was a member of Tito Puente's orchestra from 1957 to 1960 before forming his own orchestra in 1961. His contributions to the music industry were recognized when he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBorn on April 29, 1929 in New York City, New York, Ray Barretto grew up with a passion for music that would shape his career. Throughout his life, he showcased his talent as a versatile percussionist and collaborated with numerous renowned artists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRay Barretto sadly passed away on February 17, 2006 in Hackensack, New Jersey. Despite his departure from this world, his legacy lives on through his influential music and lasting impact on the Latin music scene.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"la-cuna","title":"La Cuna","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLa Cuna\u003c\/i\u003e is one of the best moves in producer Taylor Creed's career. By bringing together Ray Barretto, Tito Puento (timbales) and Joe Farrell (tenor and soprano saxophones, flute), one of the best Latin jazz albums has been recorded. All the musicians involved are given room to showcase some of their finest moments. The album also moves into soul territory with an interpretation of Stevie Wonder's \"Pastime Paradise\". \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50382182482251,"sku":"2221651","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Cover_915ea1d1-08b0-438e-be11-a087a25a8671_3e64fb97_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1726244339"},{"product_id":"pastime-paradise","title":"Pastime Paradise","description":"\u003cp\u003ePastime Paradise, first released by Stevie Wonder in 1976 got a new lease of life when sampled by Coolio on his Grammy Award winning Gangsta’s Paradise. It has also over the years been covered by Patti Smith as well as our fave version, courtesy of Latin percussionist Ray Barretto. First released on CTI in 1981, to this day it remains a staple for both the jazz and soul rooms. Never before released on a 12 inch, Major Keys continue their fine form with this extended floor filler that will appeal to DJ’s and collectors alike. It also flips it with La Cuna and Mambotango taken from the same 1981 LP. This is a special EP and one that you will want for your collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Major Keys","offers":[{"title":"Black 12\"","offer_id":50451210305867,"sku":"2190336","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/li1_21_41e1ea71_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727119560"},{"product_id":"indestructible-1","title":"Indestructible","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe year 1973 was both a successful and stressful time for Ray Barretto. His band had developed a loyal following among dancers of the new Afro-Cuban-based music known as salsa. He had achieved success as a composer with “Cocinando,” the theme song for the Fania produced movie Our Latin Thing. But his band’s explosive rhythm team of Orestes Vilató on timbales, Johnny Rodríguez on bongó and cencerro, bassist Dave Pérez, pianist Louis Crúz, along with trumpeter René López and vocalist Adalberto Santiago would eventually all leave him. He was heartbroken. He had developed what every bandleader wants, a sound, but Barretto was undaunted and would rebuild. He would call upon an old friend, trumpeter Roberto Rodríguez, who had decided to stay. Fellow trumpeter Joseph “Papy” Román also remained, and Barretto would form a new group that would re-define Barretto’s sound and re-affirm his position as a band leader. \u003ci\u003eIndestructible\u003c\/i\u003e announced the return of Ray Barretto to the salsa scene in a big way.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndestructible\u003c\/i\u003e is Ray Barretto’s most remarkable work of virtuosity exploding with an opening continuous roll that lasts with accents and tones thrown in at surprising moments along with a series of Afro-Cuban rhythms. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Craft Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50490049528139,"sku":"1001597","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/RAY_BARRETTO_INDESTRUCTIBLE_FRONT_COVER_9afd9470_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727650325"},{"product_id":"acid","title":"Acid","description":"\u003cp\u003eRay Barretto’s songs are cinematic. Artfully composed, richly orchestrated, each one feels like something deserving of big-screen wonderment. And, indeed, from Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets (''Ritmo Sabroso'') and Oliver Stone’s JFK (''El Watusi'') to Lee Daniels’ Precious (''Teacher of Love'') to Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight (''Cocinando Suave''), his music as a bandleader made it into movies of major importance across the decades. Of course, you don’t need to be a card-carrying cinephile to appreciate the moods and magnitudes expressed by his work, especially his seminal 1968 album \u003cem\u003eAcid\u003c\/em\u003e for Fania Records.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vinyl Me Please","offers":[{"title":"LP - Orange","offer_id":50497698169163,"sku":"2225233","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":56946266210635,"sku":"R3043-1857","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_f6d15a80-9442-45f1-9d4f-1537603b41a8.jpg?v=1775232535"},{"product_id":"que-viva-la-musica","title":"Que Viva La Musica","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eQue Viva La Música\u003c\/i\u003e just turned 50 and features Barretto at his peak of the “Hard Salsa” era. The album contains the track “Cocinando” from the famed documentary Our Latin Thing which alone makes the record worth the price of admission. Other key tracks include “La Pelota” and “Que Viva La Música”. Recorded in 1972, the recording features his original Salsa band including Adalberto Santiago and Orestes Vilato before their storied breakup. Now available remastered for the first time in decades. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Craft Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50506681516363,"sku":"2019154","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Que_Viva_La_M_C3_BAsica_9195d2b3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727827332"},{"product_id":"para-bailar","title":"Para Bailar","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePara Bailar\u003c\/em\u003e was Ray Barretto’s debut album as a leader. For nearly 40 years, conguero and bandleader \u003cstrong\u003eRay Barretto\u003c\/strong\u003e was one of the leading forces in Latin jazz. His hard, compelling playing style graced the recordings of saxophonists \u003cstrong\u003eGene Ammons\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eLou Donaldson\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eSonny Stitt\u003c\/strong\u003e, pianist \u003cstrong\u003eRed Garland\u003c\/strong\u003e, and guitarists \u003cstrong\u003eWes Montgomery\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eKenny Burrell\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe is credited for being the first U.S.A.-born percussionist to integrate the African-based conga drum into jazz. This fact has designated him as one of the early “crossover” artists in jazz, skillfully balancing his Latin leanings and his love for bebop throughout a long and successful career.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Descarga","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50975348392267,"sku":"2236178","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Barretto_para_Bailar_b116a628_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1734148529"},{"product_id":"together-9","title":"Together","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is a Record Store Day Black Friday title and is available to buy in stores from 28th November 2025, and online from 29th November 2025 (8am). Click 'Notify Me' to receive a notification when it is available to buy online.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether was released in 1969 on Fania Records. It brings together Latin Jazz, Boogaloo, Afro-Cuban and salsa sounds. Featuring Adalberto Santiago on vocals, Andy Gonzalez on bass, Louis Cruz on piano, Orestes Vilato on timbales, Roberto Rodriguez on trumpet and Tony Fuentes on bongos, Together was Barretto’s third solo album on Fania, after the successful Acid (1968) and Hard Hands (1968). Highlights include the electric Latin-Funk opener “Together,” the hard-hitting salsa jam “Vive y vacila” (Live and Play) and the cover of the Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller and Chano Pozo composition, the Afro-Cuban Jazz classic “Tin Tin Deo.”  \u003cspan\u003e(AAA) Lacquers cut from the original master tapes, pressed on\u003c\/span\u003e black 180g vinyl in a single-pocket paper-wrapped jacket.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Craft Recordings","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":55948820644171,"sku":"R0425-2370","price":33.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/418467303962-800.webp?v=1763666442"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/ray-barretto.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}