Live at Ronnie Scott's

Irakere: Jesus "Chucho" Valdes (piano, musical director); Ceasar Lopez (alto & soprano saxophones); Carlos Averhoff (tenor saxophone); Juan Monguia, Adalberto Moreno (trumpets); Orlando Valle (flute, keyboards); Carlos E. Morales (guitar); Carlos Del Puerto (bass); Enrique Pla (drums, percussion); Oscar Valdes (percussion, vocals); Miguel "Anga" Diaz (congas).
Engineer: Adalberto Hernandez, Antonio Benitez.
Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Club, London, England in September 1991. Includes liner notes by Jack Massarik.
All songs written by Jesus "Chucho" Valdes.
This is part of World Pacific's "The Music Of Cuba" series.
Personnel: José Miguel Meléndez (vocals, percussion); Mayra Caridad Valdés, Leo Vera, Carlos Manuel (vocals); Cesar Lopez (alto saxophone); Alfredo Thompson (tenor saxophone); Juan Munguía, Adalberto 'Trompetica' Lara (trumpet); Enrique Plá (drums); Andrés "El Negrón" Miranda (congas).
Audio Remasterer: Ian Jones .
Liner Note Authors: David Murphy ; Chucho Valdés; John Armstrong .
Recording information: Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Birmingham, UK (05/27/1995).
Director: Chucho Valdés.
Editor: Ian Jones .
Arranger: Chucho Valdés.
In Irakere's earlier days, this premiere Cuban group often had to disguise the fact that they were playing imperalistic music from the West (i.e. jazz). Maybe now the masquerade is no longer necessary for the music on this definitive CD would never be mistaken for anything else. Heavily influenced both by Dizzy Gillespie and the rhythms of Cuba and South America, the 11-piece group is in top form interpreting the compositions of its pianist/leader Chuco Valdes (who has a memorable workout on "Mr. Bruce"). Five of the six selections are primaily features for individual players. Throughout this memorable set, the ensemble work is clean and loose, the percussionists keep the proceedings fiery and the soloists are excellent. ~ Scott Yanow