Ray Barretto has passed away

[Christiern]

I was just told this--no details yet. I knew him back in my Riverside days and he left a very favorable impression as a perso as well as a musician.

[Hardbopjazz]

Oh man, that sucks. I really enjoy his music. I've seen him at the Blue Note with Horace Silver in the 1990's. He sure knew how to get the audience to tap their feet.

RIP Ray.

[Hardbopjazz]

Maybe this should move to the artists section.

Edited February 17, 2006 by Hardbopjazz

[king ubu]

Sad news

[Harold_Z]

RIP Ray.

Sad news.

[mikeweil]

I was afraid I would read this rather soon after the news about him having to undergo open heart surgery twice within a short time.

Muchas gracias, Ray, for the groove and spirit. Have a nice descarga with Mongo, Tito, Cal, Willie, Al, and all the others!

Edited February 17, 2006 by mikeweil

[mgraham333]

Latin jazz figure Ray Barretto dies

Grammy-winning percussionist had heart surgery earlier this month

MSNBC

Updated: 9:15 a.m. ET Feb. 17, 2006

Percussionist Ray Barretto, whose Latin-styled jazz rhythms were legendary among salsa fans, died early Friday morning, according to a New York-area radio station.

Barretto, 76, passed away in the Hackensack University Medical Center just before 5 a.m. Friday, WBGO-FM said.

He had been ill and underwent heart bypass surgery in January, a procedure that required follow-up surgery earlier this month after an artery burst. After the second surgery, he had been in recovery in an intensive care unit at a Ridgewood, N.J., hospital.

Barretto won a 1989 Grammy for best Tropical Latin performance for his song "Ritmo en el Corazon," recorded with Celia Cruz. He recently was for another Grammy this year for his album “Time Was — Time Is” but lost out to his counterpart Eddie Palmieri.

Barretto, whose 1979 album "Ricanstruction" is a classic in the salsa genre, gained fame in the jazz community for integrating the conga drum into jazz rhythms.

Source

[birdanddizzy]

RIP Mr Barretto

[brownie]

His beat goes on!

[JSngry]

I saw Barretto & Lou Donaldson reunited at one of those "Salsa Meets Jazz" things that the Village Gate was running ca. 1980. Ray did a set w/his own band (w/the great Sal Cuevas on electric bass) and then had Lou come out to sit in for a set. The music, of course, was superb. The vibe was strong, and Ray & Lou's smiles lit up the room as much as did their playing. Everybody danced for every song. It was beautiful.

Que Viva La Musica!

[Larry Kart]

Dos anyone else know Barretto's 1995 album on Owl/Blue Note -- "My Summertime," with Michael Mossman, Adam Kolker, Hector Martignon, Jairo Moreno, and Vince Cherico? I'm no Barretto expert, but I picked this up a few years back and was very impressed. Sounded like the album that I wish Horace Silver would have made at the time. Are there other Barretto albums of this style and quality? (P.S. It's a fine David Baker recording, and Martignon in particular plays his ass off.)

[catesta]

R.I.P.

Edited February 17, 2006 by catesta

[Noj]

RIP Ray. I love your music.

I recently got this bad boy, highly recommended:

[sidewinder]

RIP. Saw him once with Kenny Burrell and it was indeed memorable.

[clifford_thornton]

RIP.

So many greats have flown out the past few years, it's staggering.

[trane_fanatic]

RIP. It's a shame. He was scheduled to play a date at the SFJAZZ Spring Season too. Same thing happened with Oscar Brown, Jr. last year.

[chris olivarez]

It seems like a kajillion years ago that I bought a 45 of "El Watusi" RIP to the great conga man.

[Brad]

Rest in Peace Ray.