'Chucho's Steps' ( Chucho's Steps ) - Inspired by the Coltrane composition 'Giant Steps,' and also a challenge to deconstruct the jazz standard, ValdГ©s deliberately sought out to reframe the typical jazz composition by creating an extended form with one continuous melodic line. Chucho's solo piano recording on the Termidor label is by far the supreme version, but the tune is now part of Latin Jazz standard repertoire and is played by bands around the globe. 'Mambo Influenciado' ( Lucumi Piano Solo ) - Contributing to a musical canon often referred to as 'Latin Jazz' is Chucho's now standard minor blues piece, 'Mambo Influenciado.' Recorded in the 1960s with theВ Orquesta Cubana de MГєsica ModernaВ (the Cuban Modern Music Orchestra) in the decade before Irakere's formation, this piece was originally conceived as a jazz tune influenced by the Cuban tinge. An amalgam ofВ Chopin,В Lecuona,В McCoy TynerВ andВ Bill Evans, Chucho's mastery is clearly evident in this gorgeous piece. This piece is mostly piano solo with the Maestro at his most lyrical and tender, evoking an exquisite and almost heart-wrenching honesty.

'Nanu' ( New Conceptions ) - Some of Chucho's most brilliant solo piano work wasn't necessarily limited to the few solo albums he recorded. With the first iteration of the band - featuring legendary figuresВ Paquito D'RiveraВ andВ Arturo Sandoval, among others - this tribute to the deep African roots of Cuban music melds the sacred and the secular, informed by jazz and splattered with funk and rock. 'Misa Negra' ( The Best of Irakere ) - The studio version of this suite brought to light a more constrained, almost theatrical interpretation of Chucho's opus, but the live version is undoubtedly one of the most memorable performances Irakere has ever given.

After the synth-laden introduction, the remarkable horn section takes off, and highlights the extraordinary flute work of a then very youngВ Orlando 'Maraca' Valle, just fresh out of the School of the Arts in Havana. 'Contradanza'В ( Felicidad ) - Another tune from the same live album, 'Contradanza' is Chucho's homage to the 19th century nationalist genre that coalesced as an extension (or collision) of both European and African influences. This was the second iteration of the Irakere band, encompassing most of the 1980s and into the early 90s. 'Anabis' ( Felicidad ) - While there are several renditions of this on different albums, my personal favorite is the live version, given I was sitting in the audience atВ Ronnie Scott'sВ club in London when Irakere recorded it! The haunting intensity of Chucho's piano intro is matched by the frenetic tempo of the main theme, not to mention the crackling ensemble breaks that highlight the extraordinary precision of rhythm section membersВ Miguel AngГЎ DiazВ (congas, who takes an amazing solo),В Enrique PlГЎВ (drums),В Oscar ValdГ©sВ (timbales) andВ Carlos Del PuertoВ (bass).

The juxtaposition of electric guitar, vintage Farfisa organ and sacred batГЎ drums is precisely what has definedВ IrakereВ as one of the most genre-defying Cuban bands of all time. While the album credits the song toВ RaГєl ValdГ©sВ (Chucho ValdГ©s brother), it was, in fact, penned by Chucho. 'Bacalao con pan' ( Grandes Momentos ) - One of Irakere's 1970s dance hits, 'Bacalao Con Pan' (literally translated as 'cod fish with bread'), represents the obvious influence of iconic American groups such asВ Blood, Sweat and Tears, and featured late guitaristВ Carlos Emilio MoralesВ in full-on 'wah-wah' pedal mode. SFJAZZ Director of Education and pianist Rebeca MauleГіn lists 11 of her top Chucho ValdГ©s and Irakere recordings, in no particular order, ahead of this week's Fridays at Five streaming concert featuring Chucho ValdГ©s and Irakere 45, filmed in February 2019, following SFJAZZ Gala 2019 during which Chucho received the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award. 11 IRAKERE & CHUCHO VALDГ‰S SONGS YOU MUST HEAR

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