"JazzMn Meets Paquito D'Rivera" - January 18th, 2003
Born in Cuba, Paquito D’Rivera began his career as a child prodigy, playing with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He was one of the founding members of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna and co-director of the innovative musical group Irakere, whose explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music had never been heard before. Irakere toured extensively throughout America and Europe.
Paquito D'Rivera will lead The JazzMn Big Band on a journey of Latin jazz, Saturday, January 18th at 7:30 p.m. at Benson Great Hall, on the campus of Bethel College. D'Rivera will be joined by his drummer, Vince Cherico, and bassist Oscar Stagnaro. Also appearing will be Twin Cities vocalist Lucia Newell, back for her second outing with JazzMn.
Ticket Information
Concert Program
Paquito’s discography includes over thirty solo albums in jazz, be bop and Latin music. In 1991, along with Dizzy Gillespie and Gato Barbieri, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Latin music. In 1997, he received his second Grammy for his highly acclaimed recording, Portraits of Cuba. A third Grammy came in 2000 for his Tropical Nights, along with a Grammy nomination in the classical category for his Music of Two Worlds, featuring compositions by Schubert, Brahms, Villa Lobos and by D’Rivera himself. A fourth Grammy came with his quintet’s recording, Live at the Blue Note.
D’Rivera has appeared as a soloist with countless symphony orchestras, including the National Symphony in Washington DC, and the orchestras of London, Brooklyn, Florida, Costa Rica and elsewhere. He keeps very busy touring with his own ensembles: the Chamber Jazz Ensemble, the Paquito D’Rivera Big Band and the Paquito D’Rivera Quintet. He is an accomplished composer as well as one of the world’s foremost instrumentalists. Additionally, his autobiography, published in Spain to critical acclaim is currently being translated to English. His novel, En Tus Brazos Morenos, will be published soon.
The New York Times of November 3, 2001, contained a review, stating: “The second half of the Carnegie Hall concert became the Paquito D’Rivera show. Mr. D’Rivera, a gifted saxophonist and clarinetist has become the man to call if you want a concert-hall presentation of Pan- Latin music… [He] is a formidable musician, and in his clarinet playing, with lovely, clear low registers and never a squeaked high note. He was at his best…”
Visit Paquito D'Rivera at his website, www.paquitodrivera.com.
