Irakere - Misa Negra (1987)

Artista: Irakere

Álbum: Misa Negra
Año: 1987
Género: Latin Jazz
Duración: 40:38
Nacionalidad: Cuba

Lista de Temas:
1. Concierto Para Metales
2. Misa Negra
- Part I - Rezo
- Part II - Acercamiento
- Part III - Llegada Y Desarollo
- Part IV - Despedida
3. Samba Para Enrique
4. El Duke

Alineación:
- Jesus Valdes / Piano, keyboards
- Enrique Pla / Drums
- Jorge Alfonso / Congas
- Oscar Valdes / Cuban percussion
- Jorge Varona / Trumpet
- German Velasco / Sax, flute
- Jose Luis Cortes / Sax, flute
- Carlos Averhoff / Sax, flute
- Juan Mungula / Trumpet
- Carlos Morales / Guitar
- Carlos Del Puerto / Bass
-Antle Schirra / Female vocals
Gisela Schauble / Female vocals
Irakere Male vocals

No, no es un disco trasnochado de los Black Sabath, no de Dio o King Diamond ni tiene nada que ver con cualquier banda de black metal.
Los Irakere son un alucinado viaje sonoro a tierras cubanas con raices africanas, ritmos cálidos y licores ardientes, en un disco con una suite y todo, que es justamente el tema que da nombre al disco. "Misa Negra", escrita por Chucho Valdés en 1969, refiere a la misa africana y describe la ceremonia de la religión yoruba tal como se la sigue practicando hoy en día en el país caribeño. En esta obra se respetan los cuatro movimientos con los que se lleva a cabo dicha ceremonia: Rezo – los feligreses se reúnen y rezan: Acercamiento – Dios se acerca; Llegada y desarrollo – Dios entra en la asamblea y se establece un diálogo; Despedida – la misa llega a su fin y Dios se retira.
Cabe recordar que los yoruba son parte de la cultura cubana, una religión con mucho carácter africano y con raíces muy sólidas que marca de punta a punta la vida en el país caribeño.

Irakere has been heralded as one of the best big bands in the world. Propelled by a driving rhythm section and potent horn section, this Cuban band won the Latin Grammy Awards in 1979 and 1980. On this 1986 recording, the band sinks its collective teeth into a few originals, including the 17-minute, four-part title track, as well as a cover of Dave Brubeck's "El Duke." In his liner notes, Luis Tamargo states: "The vigor of Irakere lies within each individual performer, and there are no weak loops in the band's musical chain."

Roundup Newsletter

I'm not sure if I included this in the first Descarga catalog a few years ago. If I didn't, I should have. If I did, please disregard. This is the best of the post-Paquito (D'Rivera) and Arturo (Sandoval) Irakere groupings and recordings of the 80s. This CD shows why Chucho Valdes' group has remained atop the heap and continues undisputed as the most important jazz ensemble in Cuban history. The playing and arrangements are hot, sweaty and inspiring. An ear and eye opening recording that will have your jaw dragging the floor. Cuban jazz at its best. Very, very good!

Alfredo Cruz

Released by Messidor in 1991, the CD information accounts 1987, though, for the year “Misa Negra” was recorded. Nonetheless, it is an album of Irakere at its best. Irakere, a long-life Cuban band, formed by big stars in Latin jazz today was born under the musical vision of Chucho Valdés and Paquito D'Rivera, whose careers already came together from the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. An idea of renovation of popular music led them to set a new band so that a combination of Afro-Cuban folklore with bop jazz, funky, and fusion would be the outcome of all of it. Since its inception they set the standard for the cutting-edge vanguardist sounds in Latin jazz. Every album has offered always an element for surprise and awe. “Misa Negra” is a four-track album, composed totally by Chucho Valdés, except for the last track, “El Duke”, a version of a Dave Brubeck´s theme, which is a tribute to Duke Ellington. The big band sound in this tune is simply remarkable, like the musicianship of Mr. Valdés at the piano. The album flows around the theme “Misa negra” ('African Mass' in English) as the album´s name, which is a seventeen minute suite resembling the four movements of a Cuban Yoruba religious ceremony as they are practiced in the sincretic cult in today´s Cuba, with an opening prayer, the approximation, the arrival and development, and the farewell, of God in all the stages. The piano full range of sound expression is key and a wonder in this theme. Track three scents a Brazilian flavor in “Samba para Enrique”, and funky opening track “Concierto para metales” roots on the power of the large brass section of the band. In conclusion, a great album of Latin jazz with variety of rhythms and takes to enjoy by the hand of a legendary band with superb musicians at their best.

David Hervás

Y seguimos tratando de completar la discografía de esta banda... para todos los que piden más Irakere tendremos más cosas para traer...