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Ray Barretto, the iconic conguero and Latin Jazz pioneer now has his place in the Fania Anthology series. With repertoire from the various genres and eras , this collection of Ray’s signature songs is a tribute to one of Latin music’s greatest performers. One of the most prolific and ambitious bandleaders in the history of Afro-Caribbean music, Nuyorican conguero Ray Barretto was a key protagonist of the ’70s New York salsa explosion. Classic salsa jams such as “Arrepiéntete,” “Indestructible” and “Que Viva La Música” represent the very essence of salsa – both its raucous danceability and its deep connection to the sophisticated craftsmanship of American jazz. We’ve decided to honor the legacy of Barretto, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 76, with a definitive 2-CD retrospective including only the very best of his work.
Hand picking the 26 tracks in this collection wasn’t easy. Barretto’s work ranges from the boogaloo and Latin soul anthems of his late ’60s output to extensive instrumental jazz descargas and the mid-to-late ’70s albums that took salsa to its absolute apex: The Message, Indestructible – a triumphant return to form after after most of his musicians left him to form Típica 73 -, Barretto and the progressive Rican/Struction.
The results speak for themselves, and we believe this brand new Anthology to be the best Ray Barretto compilation in the market. Available both as a physical CD set with extensive liner notes, and also as a digital download.
