Live at Ronnie Scott's [Live]

Irakere | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 1993)
• Original Release Date: April 20, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005HB6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,566 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Afro-Cuban Jazz at it's best!, February 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Live at Ronnie Scott's (Audio CD)

Irakere is Cuba's, and in my opinion, the world's greatest and most influential Afro-Cuban Jazz band ever. There is no better setting to hear this incredible group than a live setting. This CD was recorded live in 1991 at London's famed Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Although many obviously feel that the original version of Irakere, which included Arturo Sandoval and Paquito D'Rivera along with Chucho Valdes, is the best incarnation of the group, there is no denying the incredible power and virtuoso musicianship of this incarnation of the group from the late 80's-early 90's which included Orlando "Maraca" Valle on flute, Miguel "Anga" Diaz on congas and percussion, Cesar Lopez on sax, and Juan Munguia on trumpet. The bottom line is that every version of this group has been phenomenal, right down to the current, younger version that is still very much alive and well in Cuba! This great disc captures the incredible jazz sound of Irakere live, from Chucho's brilliant piano work, to the blazing horns and powerful percussion that has defined Irakere since it's inception in 1973, and has influenced countless latin jazz and dance groups not only in Cuba, but throughout the world. Any disc from Irakere is a winner, but this happens to be one of my favorites.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Live Irakere, August 11, 2005

By 

M. Velazquez (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at Ronnie Scott's (Audio CD)

Although many of my friends hail Afrocubanismo as Irakere's best live album... I refuse to be convinced that it could even hold a candle to Live at Ronnie Scott's. If you don't believe me, just listen to "Flute Notes"-- a fast-paced adrenaline-rush of a song that switches from a classic Afro-Cuban six-eigths beat, to a powerful son rhythm, to a long flute solo by the one-and-only Orlando "Maraca" Valle. It's one of the best Latin Jazz tracks ever made, in my opinion. Irakere itself is a legendary band, so if you haven't yet heard of them, check out some of their studio albums like Yemaya, Misa Negra, or Exuerancia. And when you're ready to find out how they can possibly pull off that kind of excellence on a live stage, Ronnie Scott's is the best place to start.