In the early 1970s, D'Rivera and Valdés founded the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna (the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music). D'Rivera conducted the orchestra for two years, and in 1973 he and seven other orchestra members set up their own group, Irakere . This ensemble created a unique sound that combined jazz, rock, classical, and traditional Cuban music. The group launched several successful albums, following them with an international tour.
In 1980, while he was in Spain...