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Ray Barretto

Ray Barretto is an NEA Jazz Master

Barretto was born on 29 April 1929, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, of Puerto Rican parents. Noted for his many years as a prominent Latin bandleader, his music career actually began as a studio performer on the conga for jazz recording sessions.

He was raised in the Latin ghettos of East Harlem and the Bronx, in an environment filled with music of Puerto Rico but with a love for the swing bands of Ellington, Basie and Goodman. He escaped the ghetto by joining the United States Army when he was 17 years old, but he did not escape the music.

Influenced by a record of Dizzy Gillespie, “Manteca”, with conguero Chano Pozo. He was hooked and he knew then that his calling was was to become a professional musician. Barretto sat in on jam sessions held at the Orlando, a GI jazz club in Munich, Germany. After military service in 1949, he returned to Harlem and taught himself how to play the drums.

Barretto’s first regular job was with Eddie Bonnemere’s Latin Jazz Combo. He then went on to play for four years with Cuban bandleader/pianist Jose Curbelo. In 1957, Barretto then replaced Mongo Santamaria in Tito Puente‘s band, with which he recorded nis first album: Dance Mania. After four years with Puente, he was one of the most sought-after percussionists in New York City’s thriving music scene. He attended jam sessions with notable artists such as Max Roach, Charlie Parker, Art Blakey and other jazz giants. He also recorded with Sonny Stitt, Lou Donaldson, Red Garland, Gene Ammons, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Cannonball Adderley , Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Dizzy Gillespie, and others.

Barretto got his first job as a bandleader in 1961 when Orrin Keepnews of Riverside Records, asked him to form a charanga for a recording. Keepnews was familiar with Barretto’s jazz work and the collaboration resulted in the album Pachanga With Barretto. This was followed by the Latin jam Latino in 1962, on which Barretto was joined by Jose “Chombo” Silva on the tenor sax and Alejandro “El Negro” Vivar on the trumpet.

In 1962, Barretto released the album Charanga Moderna. The track “El Watusi” reached the Top 20 pop chart in the United States in 1963 and went gold.

His next eight albums between 1963 and 1966 thrashed around in various directions and consistently eluded commercial success. The musical merit of some of his recorded work from this period was not appreciated until years later. His fortunes changed when he signed to Fania Records in 1967. He dropped violins for an all-brass frontline and made the R&B- and jazz-flavoured Acid, which won him major popularity among Latin audiences for the first time.

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The Vinyl Post

Que Viva La Musica

Read "Que Viva La Musica" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Much has been made about the making of a hybrid style involving Latin music and jazz strains that was established by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo in the late '40s. However, the ripples of those early experiments would reach far and wide for subsequent decades, even if the casual listener might have been largely unaware of such developments. One of the key figures to come from this movement would be the late conguero Ray Barretto, who has yet to be ...

230
Album Review

Ray Barretto: Jazz

Read "Jazz" reviewed by Graham L. Flanagan


Although both of his parents were full-blooded Puerto Ricans, Ray Barretto was as American as they come. Born in Brooklyn, by the age of seven he had already resided in that borough, as well as Spanish Harlem and the Bronx. His biological lineage, combined with the place he was born and raised, gives new meaning to the concept of Latin jazz. Fania honors his legacy with a compilation featuring ten of the strongest works he recorded for the ...

334
Multiple Reviews

Ray Barretto: Que Viva La Musica, Indestructible & Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1 & 2

Read "Ray Barretto: Que Viva La Musica, Indestructible & Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1 & 2" reviewed by Russ Musto


Ray Barretto Que Viva La Musica Fania 2006 Ray Barretto Indestructible Fania 2006 Fania All-Stars Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1 Fania 2006 Fania All-Stars Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 2 Fania 2006

804
Bailey's Bundles

Zoho Music: Latin Jazz, New York City Style

Read "Zoho Music: Latin Jazz, New York City Style" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Zoho Music has established itself as the pre-eminent purveyor of Latin jazz. Resurrected from the ashes of the former Khaeon label by Jochen Becker, Zoho boasts a stable of renowned and diverse musicians. Here are three of the best recordings recently released by the label.

Ray Barretto Standards Rican-ditioned Zoho Music 2006

Standards Rican-onditioned was the last recording released by New York percussionist Ray Barretto before his death in ...

191
Megaphone

Remembering Ray Barretto

Read "Remembering Ray Barretto" reviewed by AAJ Staff


By David Amram When Ray and I first met and played together in the Fall of 1955 at the Monday night sessions at the 125 club in Harlem, Ray was the only conga player and I was the only French horn player who always showed up. We used to always laugh because we were surrounded by a small army of great musicians who played what were then considered traditional jazz instruments. ...

321
Album Review

Ray Barretto: Time Was - Time Is

Read "Time Was - Time Is" reviewed by Russ Musto


Ray Barretto continues to refine his brand of swinging, Latin-inflected jazz with each succeeding release. On Time Was - Time Is, the venerable conguero leads a polished instrumental ensemble featuring Joe Magnarelli on trumpet and Myron Walden on alto with Robert Rodriguez at the piano and Sean Conly and Vince Cherico on bass and drums. The set kicks off with a couple of Afro-Cuban classics. Bobby Sanabria joins the group on percussion to emphasize the folkloric rhythms ...

243
Album Review

Ray Barretto: Time Was - Time Is

Read "Time Was - Time Is" reviewed by Jim Santella


The Ray Barretto Sextet delivers. It turns a program of traditional songs and original pieces into a performance of modern jazz designed to inspire. The conguero, who knows about finding rich talent, has put together a stellar ensemble that performs with cohesion, precision, and passion.

It's been nearly fifty years since Barretto replaced Mongo Santamaria in Tito Puente's ensemble. During his varied career he's experienced jazz from every angle: from traditional Latin to funk, bebop, and straight-ahead. With ...

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Video / DVD

Weekly Latin Jazz Video Fix: Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Candido Camero, and Ray Barretto

Weekly Latin Jazz Video Fix: Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Candido Camero, and Ray Barretto

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

Percussion sits at the heart and soul of Latin Jazz, providing the music's cultural lifeline and rhythmic vitality. The use of percussion certainly sets Latin Jazz apart from straight ahead jazz, but it is so much more than a simple novelty.  Embedded in each hit of the drum is a cultural legacy, associated with centuries of social development. When that deep legacy blends with the rich cultural history of the African American experience through jazz, miracles can happen. Percussionists are ...

143

Performance / Tour

Tribute to Ray Barretto at Creole August 22 & 23

Tribute to Ray Barretto at Creole August 22 & 23

Source: Ann Forster

Latin Jazz Legacy Series Presents TRIBUTE TO RAY BARRETTO Featuring: Steve Turre (Special Guest), Chembo Corniel, Vince Cherico, Boris Kozlov, Peter Brainin, John Di Martino Friday, August 22nd & Saturday, August 23rd Showtimes 8:00pm & 10:00pm

NEW YORK: Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club continues to invigorate the Harlem Jazz scene with its Latin Jazz Legacy Series featuring TRIBUTE TO RAY BARRETTO Friday, August 22nd and Saturday, August 23rd, Showtimes 8:00pm and 10:00pm at Creole, 2167 ...

142

Performance / Tour

Tribute to Ray Barretto at Creole Supper Club!

Tribute to Ray Barretto at Creole Supper Club!

Source: All About Jazz

Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club 2167 Third Avenue (N.E. corner 118th St.), New York, New York 10035 - (212) 876-8838

 Presents
: LATIN JAZZ LEGACY SERIES 

AUGUST 2009 August 21st and 22nd at 8:00pm & 10:00pm
 TRIBUTE TO RAY BARRETTO
 Featuring the super-talented artists: Special Guest Steve Turre (trombone), Chembo Corniel (conga) Vince Cherico (drums), Boris Kozlov (bass), Peter Brainin (saxophones), John Di Martino (pianist, musical director) - Paying homage to the Grammy winning Latin jazz giant Ray Barretto - ...

145

Performance / Tour

Highlights in Jazz 2008 Season Line Up

Highlights in Jazz 2008 Season Line Up

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

JACK KLEINSINGER Presents Highlights In JAZZ New York's Longest Running Jazz Concert Series Highlights In Jazz 2008 Season THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2008 - 8 PM Remembering Ray Barretto featuring Sonny Fortune Dave Valentin Steve Turre Bobby Sanabria Steve Kroon Arturo O'Farrill Trio Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 8 pm Highlights In Jazz 35th Anniversary ...

76

Performance / Tour

Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights in Jazz Presents Remembering Ray Barretto Thursday, January 3rd 8PM at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights in Jazz Presents Remembering Ray Barretto Thursday, January 3rd 8PM at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2008 - 8 PM Remembering Ray Barretto featuring Sonny Fortune, Dave Valentin, Steve Turre, Bobby Sanabria, Steve Kroon and the Arturo O'Farrill Trio

All concerts will take place at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center (Borough of Manhattan Community College), 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich and West Street). $30 General Admission / $27.50 Students Make checks payable to: Highlights in Jazz - Mail to: Highlights in Jazz, 7 Peter Cooper ...

135

Recording

ZOHO Label to Release "Standards Rican-ditioned," Ray Barretto's Last CD Recording

ZOHO Label to Release "Standards Rican-ditioned," Ray Barretto's Last CD Recording

Source: All About Jazz

ZOHO Label set to release “Standards Rican-ditioned", Ray Barretto's Last CD Recording

Latin jazz indie label ZOHO Music L.L.C. announces the release of Standards Rican-ditioned, the last recording by the legendary percussionist Ray Barretto--who passed away unexpectedly on February 17, 2006, at the age of 76. The planned release date is August 14, 2006.

In the summer of 2005, Ray Barretto met with Jochen Becker from ZOHO in New York City to discuss plans for his next recording. Ray wanted ...

145

Music Industry

Ray Barretto Viewing, Wed Feb 22, Riverside Chapel

Ray Barretto Viewing, Wed Feb 22, Riverside Chapel

Source: All About Jazz

Ray Barretto Passed Away, Fri Feb 17, 2006 Services to be held: LOCATION: Riverside Chapel ADDRESS: 180 West 76th Street, Bet Amsterdam & 76th St. DATE: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006 TIME: 11:00am-5:00pm and 6:00pm -10:00pm Band leader, percussionist, NEA Jazz Master & Grammy Award winner Ray Barretto will be viewed at the Riverside Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 from 11 - 5 p.m. and 6 - 10 p.m. located at 180 West ...

110

Music Industry

National Endowment for the Arts mourns passing of NEA Jazz Master Ray Barretto

National Endowment for the Arts mourns passing of NEA Jazz Master Ray Barretto

Source: All About Jazz

Washington, DC - NEA Chairman Dana Gioia released the following statement upon the death of NEA Jazz Master Ray Barretto: “Ray Barretto was a pioneer, a legend, and a leader and we are proud to have added 'NEA Jazz Master' to that list of superlatives. All of us at the NEA are deeply saddened at Ray's untimely death and offer our condolences and prayers to his family. Ray Barretto will always have our respect and admiration for all that he ...

55

Obituary

Latin Jazz Drummer Ray Barretto Dies

Latin Jazz Drummer Ray Barretto Dies

Source: All About Jazz

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Ray Barretto, a Grammy-winning Latin jazz percussionist known for integrating the conga drum into jazz, died Friday, officials said. He was 76. Barretto had undergone heart bypass surgery in January and suffered from pneumonia, said George Rivera, a friend and family spokesman. He died at Hackensack University Medical Center with his wife and two sons by his bedside. “He was suffering too much, so the Lord took him," Fidel Estrada, a family friend, told The Associated Press ...

107

Obituary

Ray Barretto, Grammy wining Latin jazz percussionist, dead at 76

Ray Barretto, Grammy wining Latin jazz percussionist, dead at 76

Source: All About Jazz

HACKENSACK, New Jersey (AP) - Ray Barretto, the Grammy-winning Latin jazz percussionist who had recently undergone heart surgery, died Friday, hospital officials and friends said. He was 76.

George Rivera, a friend who has been serving as a family spokesman, said Barretto died with his wife and two sons by his bedside at the Hackensack University Medical Center. Barretto had undergone heart bypass surgery in January and was operated on again two weeks later after an artery burst.

“He survived ...

Hilary Noble
saxophone, tenor
Karen Smith
percussion
Michel Seba
percussion

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Que Viva La Musica

Craft Recordings
2023

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Jazz

Fania
2009

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CTI + RVG

CTI Records
2009

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Latin Soul Man

Abracadabra Music
2007

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Acid

Abracadabra Music
2006

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