{"title":"Grupo Irakere","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"grupo-irakere","title":"Grupo Irakere","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the second instalment in our Cuban Classics series, we proudly\npresent this sought-after slice of sublime Afro-Cuban jazz from 1976.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt comes courtesy of one of Cuba's most influential acts, Grupo Irakere. Founded\nin 1973 by Chucho Valdes (son of the Cuban pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdes)\nthe group was home to many of Cuba's finest musicians over the years. With an\nelectrifying style and sound, they mixed traditional Cuban music with jazz, funk,\nand rock.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis self-titled album includes the much-loved, dancefloor heavy-hitter 'Chequere-\nSon', a Latin- jazz funk masterpiece with Cubanized bebop- flavoured horn lines,\nlush keys, and '70s hip swagger. Though 'Chequere-Son' is the keystone of the\nrecord, the album is laced with brilliance at every turn, from the Carlos Santana-\nesque channelling 'Iya' with its percussive Latin power, to the sultry, slick and\npassionate '38 1\/2'. Elsewhere, the absorbing, ever- building energy of 'Juana\n1600' and steamy vocal dancer 'Xiomara' are also highlights of this incredible\nalbum.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePressed on Cuba's state led Areito Records, the album was well received\ninternationally, garnering distribution in Finland on Love Records, in Italy on Phase\n6 Super Stereo, and also in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA cherished Afro-Cuban triumph, this album has been crying out for a reissue and Mr Bongo are delighted to make that happen.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50389754839371,"sku":"2167923","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50389754511691,"sku":"2167922","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/1178c7f3-5e57-45b7-aa70-446472f831c9_2ad5b051_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726370739"},{"product_id":"teatro-amadeo-roldan-recita","title":"Teatro Amadeo Roldan Recita","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the third release in our Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series, we reissue the iconic 1974 debut album by the mighty Grupo Irakere.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Led by Chucho Valdes, son of Cuban pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdes, the band would go on to become of the most influential and successful groups emanating from Cuba in this period. Their debut \u003ci\u003eTeatro Amadeo Roldan Recital\u003c\/i\u003e is an in- demand and incredible Afro-Cuban jazz-funk masterpiece originally landing on Cuba's state-owned imprint, Areito. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the jewels of the album is the beast of an opener, 'Bacalao Con Pan'. A heavy dancefloor Latin-funk burner, with ripping Wah-Wah guitar, a blistering mix of Latin percussive elements and horns firing on all cylinders. It's a song which builds and breaks with an energy and power that still lights up the dance to this very day. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe album is a varied bag of tricks, traversing moods, styles and genres whilst melding traditional rhythms with more contemporary mindsets. Take the delectable downtempo ballad 'Danza Naniga' or 'Valle Picadura' that starts on a similar tip, before erupting into a horn heavy heater. Move through to find 'Taka Taka Ta' where Afro-Cuban jazz, call and response vocals and brain- busting organs marry in steamy unison.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Elsewhere, continuing this melting pot of musical influences, the prog\/ psychedelic rock leaning 'Quindiambo', expertly combines traditional Latin music with psych rock in a similar way to Santana. 'Misaluba' is another highlight, a cover version of a song by the British-Italian based group Cyan, written by Mario \u0026amp; Giosy Capuano, making it their own with this tripped-out, percussion-rich makeover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e As debuts go, Grupo Irakere's \u003ci\u003eTeatro Amadeo Roldan Recital\u003c\/i\u003e is about as good as it gets and gives a snapshot of Cuba in the mid '70s, with a band that were destined for big things.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50398995775819,"sku":"2173960","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50398995120459,"sku":"2173959","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/af089160-a065-42a0-972b-e41cfb57399f_bda990fb_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726500423"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/grupo-irakere.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}