Irakere - 1979 - Chekeré Son

Irakere

1979

Chekere Son

01. Chekeré Son

02. Quince Minutos

03. La Semilla (Including Calabazita)

04. La Comparsa

05. Camaguey

06. Cha Cha Cha

Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Paquito D´ Rivera

Bass, Bass Guitar [Guitar Bass], Tuba – Carlos Del Puerto

Congas [Tumbadora], Bata [Tambores Batá], Percussion [En General] – Jorge Alfonso

Congas [Tumbadora], Bata [Tambores Batá], Timbales [Paila], Bongos, Percussion [Engeneral], Lead Vocals [Cantante Del Grupo] – Oscar Valdés

Drums – Enrique Plá

Guitar, Alto Saxophone, Flugelhorn [Fliscorino] – Carlos Emilio Morales

Percussion [Percusión Cubana], Vocals – Armando Cuervo

Piano, Organ, Keyboards [Bajo De Teclas], Leader [Director Del Grupo] – Chucho Valdés

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute – Carlos Averoff

Trumpet, Trombone [Trombóne De Pistones], Percussion – Arturo Sandoval, Jorge Varona

Recorded at EGREM Studio in Havana, Cuba, on May 25 ~ June 1, 1979

Mixdown at Victor studio, Tokyo, Japan

Manufactured & distributed by Victor Musical Industries, Inc., Tokyo, JapanIrakere - La ComparsaIrakere Comparsa

This session was recorded in Cuba for a Japanese company and released on JVC and Milestone, It would be Paquito's last session with Irakere

1) Chéquere-son - This is a different and much long version of the opening song of Irakere's second studio album, LD-3660

2) Quince minutos - This is a very different version of the very non-Cuban sounding easy-listening jazz number that became the title track of LD-4267 in 1986.

3) La semilla & 6) Cha cha cha - Both of these found their way onto LD-4004, EGREM's Selección de éxitos, Vol. II.

4) La comparsa - This is the only known studio version of the opening number of the famous 23 y 12 concert.

5) Camagüey - When EGREM inexplicably re-released LD-3660 as LD 3926, this recording replaced Chéquere-son as the opening track.

A studio album recorded in Havana that saw delayed release in the US and Japan, with three songs previously cut for Areito (title track, longer but less exciting than previously) and three new ones ("La Semilla"). I have to think it was originally intended for CBS/Columbia, but was an early casualty of the Reagan Revolution. Either way, the band doubles down on Irakere 2's ill-advised disco direction: comparing this incarnation of "La Comparsa" to the Recital version demonstrates the distressing results. Even the less bastardized tracks are rather silly ("Cha Cha Cha") - if you're going to skip any of the original Irakere discs, make it this one.