Chucho Valdés - Tribute to Irakere (Live in Vienne) (2015)

At 73 years old, the Cuban monster Chucho Valdés presents, accompanied by the Afro Cuban Messengers, his "Tribute to Irakere", both a group and a musical movement that he launched in the early 70s. Valdés has once again placed himself at the exact crossroads of jazz, Cuban music and African rhythms. Vigorous and exciting. From the early 1970s and the creation of the group Irakere, he has been an innovative bandleader, as famous for his breathtaking solos as for the sophistication of his Latin fusion music. Having just released Border Free (his 35th album) as a tribute to his father, the gentle godfather of Latin jazz returns to the Théâtre Antique to pay an exceptional tribute to the modernism of Irakere. The pianist and composer leads an incandescent meeting of oriental conga, bâta drums, Cuban santeria rituals, funky jazz, Ellingtonian swing and classical music.