Irakere created a sound that mixed Jazz, european traditional music, Rock, Funk and the rythmic Cuban traditions -which would be enriched later on with Afro-Cuban and Electronica influences. In 1978, they won a Grammy for Latin music and ever since that moment, they influenced every musician to come out of Cuba, both in Jazz and Dance music.

In the U.S.A., Irakere became a model for the developement of new musical fusions. The impact that the band had in the NY scene with their live performance of that year in the Newport Jazz Festival was an ultimate event in the history of Jazz. Former band members such as Arturo Sandoval or Paquito D’Rivera have gained recognition and success all over the world, playing with Dizzy Gillespie and being awarded with several of the fist Grammys ever presented to Latin Jazz.

Track marked with * on CD only.