Barretto

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Ray Barretto’s concerts were living, breathing celebrations, premised on the reunion of old partners, audience participation, and a constant, ever-evolving exchange between generations young and old. <i>Tomorrow: Barretto Live</i> presents the appearance of Barretto and his band at New York's Beacon Theater on May 28, 1976. By this point, Barretto was an emperor within the Latin music community. In 15 years, he'd overseen several permutations of his band and released a steady string of classic albums that reflected the historic traditions of Afro-Cuban music even as they transformed them for the future. Many of the old singers in the Barretto band returned here to celebrate the conguero’s legacy, including Tito Gomez, Tito Allen, Ruben Blades, and Adalberto Santiago. Barretto was never better than he was in a live context, and the vibrancy of “Guarare” and “Ahora Se Que Vamo a Gozar” can be partly attributed to the unique synergy of artist and audience. Meanwhile, the public had finally caught up to Barretto’s taste in horn-heavy funk, and juicy arrangements like “Slo Flo” and “Vaya” revel in the Latin-soul exchange that was happening in 1976.

via Apple Music