Libre

Libre, aka Manny Oquendo's Libre, was co-founded in October 1974 by Manny Oquendo (b. 1931, Brooklyn, New York, USA, of Puerto Rican parentage; leader, timbales, bongo, güiro, other percussion, chorus, arrangements) and Andy González (b. 1951, Manhattan, New York, USA; bass, claves, other percussion, chorus, arrangements). They met while working with Eddie Palmieri's band and decided to organize Libre after having ‘irreconcilable problems' with the band leader. Their founding principle was that Libre (‘free') should be based on Afro-Cuban roots, not just copying them, but allo...