Irakere (faux-
Yoruba for 'forest') is a Cuban band founded by pianist
Chucho Valdés (son of
Bebo Valdés) in 1973. They won the
Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording in 1980 with their album
Irakere. Irakere was a seminal musical laboratory, where historic innovations in both
Afro-Cuban jazz and Cuban popular dance music were created. The group used a wide array of percussion instruments like
batá,
abakuá and
arará drums,
chequerés,
erikundis,
maracas,
claves,
cencerros,
bongó,
tumbadoras (congas), and
güiro.