Remembering Ray Barretto

Our latest broadcast is dedicated to conguero Ray Barretto, who died on Feb. 17th. Ray's seamless fusion of blues, spirituals, jazz and Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican music is arresting, no doubt about it. (Listen to "Motherless Child," which is part of the show; also "Guajira - Summertime," where Ray talks to listeners about this connection.)

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Ray Barretto, Time Was - Time Is, O+

1. Drume Negrita (Ernsto Grenet)
2. Murmullo (Aguilar Hurtado Salvador)
3. Mags (Joe Magnarelli)
4. Motherless Child (Traditional)
5. One for Ray (Robert Rodriguez)
6. The View from Here (Myron Walden)
7. Time Was - Time Is (Myron Walden)
8. Palladium Nights (Sean Conly)
9. Syracuse (Bernard Dimey - Henri Salvador)
10. Caper for Chris (Ray Barretto - Joe Magnarelli)

Ray Barretto, congas, timbales, drum set; Joe Magnarelli, trumpet, flugelhorn; Myron Walden, alto sax; Robert Rodriguez, piano; Sean Conly, bass, Vince Cherico, drums; Bobby Sanabria, percussion.

Ray Barretto Sextet, Homage to Art, Sunnyside

1. Close Your Eyes (Bernice Petkere; arranged by Luis Perdomo)
2. United (Wayne Shorter; arranged by Luis Perdomo)
3. Sleeping Dancer Sleep On (Wayne Shorter; arranged by Luis Perdomo)
4. Noise in the Attic (Wayne Shorter; arranged by Luis Perdomo)
5. Ballade for Buhaina (Composer-arranger: John Bailey)
6. Frère Jacques (Traditional; arranged by Michael P. Mossman)
7. Buh's Bossa (Lee Morgan; arranged by Hans Glawischnig)
8. Lester Left Town (Wayne Shorter; arranged by Michael P. Mossman)

Ray Barretto, congas & percussion; John Bailey, trumpet; Miguel Zenon, alto saxophone; Luis Perdomo, piano; Hans Glawischnig, bass; Vince Cherico, drums.

Ray Barretto & New World Spirit, Taboo, Concord Records

1. Taboo (M. Lecuouna - S.K. Rusell)
2. Bomba-Riquen (Composed and arranged by Ray Barretto)
3. Work Song (Nat Adderley - Oscar Brown, Jr.)
4. Cancion De'L Yunque (Ray Barretto)
5. Guaji-Rita (Hector Martignon)
6. 99 MacDougal Street (Hector Martignon)
7. Montuno Blue (Ray Barretto)
8. Brother Tom (Stanley Turrentine)
9. Lazy Afternoon (J. Moross - J. Latouche)
10. Effendi (McCoy Tyner)

Ray Barretto, congas, quinto; Ray Vega, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion, Adam Kolker, tenor & soprano saxes, flute; Hector Martignon, piano; Jairo Moreno, acoustic & electric bass; Satoshi Takeishi, drums.

Ray Barretto, My Summertime, EMI France/Owl/Blue Note

9. Summertime (Guajira)

Other places:

NPR's interview with Ray, on Jazz Profiles.

* Photo of Ray Barretto by Jennifer Samuels, for Jazz at Lincoln Center.