K Twist

Kenny Burrell (electric guitar), Major Holley (double bass) Bill English (drums) and Ray Barretto (congas). From the album Midnight Blue (1963).

In 1957, Ray Barreto replaced Mongo Santamaría in Tito Puente’s band for four years, recording his first album. Then he became one of the most requested percussionists on the thriving New York music scene. In 1962 he recorded an album for Riverside Records with his own group. From 1963 to 1966 he tried to modernize the sound of the charanga by adding rock and pop melodies, but he didn’t meet success. But his luck changed in 1967 when he signed with Fania Records and recorded nine very successful albums from 1968 to 1975.

He also played in albums of important musicians of the time. Barretto began to gain reputation and was musical director of the Fania All-Stars since 1968. In the 1970s he incorporated rock and funk elements into his music and in 1981 he recorded with CTI Records the album La Cuna, which received favorable reviews. During the 1980s and 1990s he continued to play and form groups with whom he toured the United States, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Israel. In the late 1990s he played with Kenny Burrell, Eddie Gomez, Steve Turre and Joe Lovano. He died in 2006 of a heart failure at 76 years of age and his body was taken by plane to Puerto Rico, where his remains were incinerated.

The theme is a very lively blues to which Borrell adds decorations. Then he begins his solo with an inspired disposition and desire to have a good time alternating the melody with the chords. Holley then arrives with simple, but very well calculated phrases, without complicating his life, and Burrell comes back to re-expose the theme fading out.