Craft Latino announces a post-50th anniversary reissue of Ray Barretto’s classic salsa album, Que Viva La Música. A landmark title in the influential bandleader and conguero’s prolific catalog, Que Viva La Música features such favorites as “Cocinando,” “La Pelota,” and the title track – all performed by Barretto’s legendary original band (including Adalberto Santiago and Orestes Vilató).

Available for pre-order today, the long-out-of-print album was cut from the original master tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and returns to vinyl for the first time in decades on May 26th, 2023.

The LP is pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a classic tip-on jacket, replicating Izzy Sanabria’s stunning cover art. A Ruby Red Vinyl variant color will be available exclusively at Fania.com. On digital platforms, meanwhile, Que Viva La Música will make its debut in hi-res audio (192/24).

Side A:
1. Que Viva la Música
2. Bruca Maniguá
3. La Pelota
4. El Tiempo lo Dirá

Side B:
1. Cocinando
2. Triunfó el Amor
3. Alafia Cumaye

The late, great Ray Barretto’s recordings for the Tico and Fania labels represent an extremely important chapter in the history of Salsa and thus this exquisitely-hued, magnificently-ordained, and expertly-sculpted new 180-gram vinyl album opens on the spirited, magically-summoned, titular Que Viva la Música and moves sweetly into the rhythmical hipsway within Bruca Maniguá, then comes the all-out Latin swing of La Pelota, the side rounding out on the energetically-charged El Tiempo lo Dirá.

On what is arguably Barretto’s finest salsa album, in my humble opinion, flipping the vinyl LP over, along next is the drum-led, highly impressive artistry of the ten minute salsa wonderment Cocinando and that is followed by the sumptuous, yearning, mid-tempo balladry of Triunfó el Amor, the recording coming to a close on the rousingly melodic Alafia Cumaye.

Ray Barretto grew up in Spanish Harlem in the 30s and 40s listening to jazz giants like Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington. Before the age of 20 he was already a house artist in various local labels. His unique style of playing the conga garnered him a large following, eventually playing with such acts as Tito Puente, Charlie Parker, The Rolling Stones and the Bee Gees.

He recorded a total of nine albums for the Fania label which are classics in their own right. In 1999, Barretto was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. Barretto lived in New York and was an active musical producer, as well as the leader of a touring band which has embarked in tours of the United States, Europe, Israel and Latin America.

Ray Barreto died February 17th, 2006 and his body was flown to Puerto Rico, where Barretto was given formal honors by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.

Official Purchase Links