in the late 1990s, depestre played in several studio recordings by the buena vista social club project, which were released on albums by ibrahim ferrer and omara portuondo. he did not tour with the band until 2001, when he joined bassist orlando "cachaíto" lópez for his european tour. on the first show of the tour, in basel, switzerland, depestre died on stage after playing a solo. he was 55 years old.