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Paquito D'Rivera

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Paquito D'Rivera
D'Rivera in 2022
D'Rivera in 2022
Background information
Birth nameFrancisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras
Born(1948-06-04)4 June 1948(age 76)
Havana,Cuba
GenresAfro-Cuban jazz,songo,classical
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, bandleader
Instrument(s)Alto saxophone, clarinet
Years active1965–present
LabelsSunnyside,Paquito Records
Websitepaquitodrivera
Paquito D'Rivera at the Village Gate

Francisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras(born 4 June 1948), known asPaquito D'Rivera,is a Cuban-Americanalto saxophonist,clarinetistand composer. He was a member of the CubansongobandIrakereand, since the 1980s, he has established himself as a bandleader in the United States. His smooth saxophone tone and his frequent combination ofLatin jazzandclassical musichave become his trademarks.[1]

Early life

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Francisco de Jesús Rivera Figueras was born on 4 June 1948 inHavana,Cuba.[2]His father playedclassicalsaxophone, entertained his son withDuke EllingtonandBenny Goodmanrecords and sold musical instruments. He took D'Rivera to clubs like theTropicana(frequented by his musician friends and customers) and to concert bands and orchestras.[3]

At age five, D'Rivera began saxophone lessons by his father Francisco Lorenzo Rivera Sanchez (tito). In 1960, he attended Alejandro Garcia Caturla Conservatory of Music, where he learned saxophone and clarinet In 1965, he was a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He and Valdés founded Orchestra Cubana de Música Moderna and then in 1973 the groupIrakere,which fused jazz, rock, classical, and Cuban music.

Defection

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By 1980, D'Rivera had become dissatisfied with the constraints placed on his music in Cuba for many years. In an interview with ReasonTV, D'Rivera recalled that the Cuban communist government described jazz and rock and roll as "imperialist"music that was officially discouraged in the 1960s/70s, and that a meeting withChe Guevarasparked his desire to leave Cuba.[4]In early 1980, while on tour inSpain,he sought asylum with the American Embassy, leaving his wife and child and Brother Enrique Who is also a saxophonist behind, with a promise to bring them out of Cuba.[citation needed]

Upon his arrival in the United States, D'Rivera found great support for him and his family. His mother, Maura, and his sister, Rosario, had left Cuba in 1968 and became US citizens. Maura had worked in the US in the fashion industry for many years, and Rosario had become a respected artist and entrepreneur. Paquito was introduced to the jazz scene at some prestigious clubs and concert halls in New York. He became something of a phenomenon after the release of his first two solo albums,Paquito Blowin'(June 1981) andMariel(July 1982).[5]

In 2005, D'Rivera wrote a letter criticizing musicianCarlos Santanafor his decision to wear a T-shirt with the image ofChe Guevaraon it to the2005 Academy Awards,citing Guevara's role in the execution of counter-revolutionaries in Cuba, including his own cousin.[6]

Career

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D'Rivera has performed in venues such asCarnegie Halland played with theNational Symphony Orchestra,London Symphony Orchestra,London Philharmonic Orchestra,Florida Philharmonic Orchestra,Bronx Arts Ensemble,Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra,YOA Orchestra of the Americas,Costa Rica National Symphony,American Youth Philharmonic,andSimón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.[7][8]

Throughout his career in the United States, D'Rivera's albums have received reviews from critics and have hit the top of the jazz charts. His albums have shown a progression that demonstrates his extraordinary abilities in bebop, classical and Latin/Caribbean music. D'Rivera's expertise transcends musical genres as he is the only artist to ever have won Grammy Awards in both Classical and Latin Jazz categories.[9]

D'Rivera was a judge for the 5th and 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.[10]

Paquito D'Rivera with theTrio Correnteat the 2015 Horizonte World Music Festival atEhrenbreitstein Fortress

Paquito D'Rivera Quintet

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The band backing D'Rivera consists ofPeruvianbassist Oscar Stagnaro,Argentineantrumpeter Diego Urcola, American drummer Mark Walker, and pianist Alex Brown. As a whole they are named the "Paquito D'Rivera Quintet"[11]and under this name they were awarded theLatin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Albumfor the albumLive at the Blue Notein 2001.[12]

Personal life

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D'Rivera resides inNorth Bergen,New Jersey.[13]In 2001 D'Rivera purchased a $750,000 colonial-style home, which is located onBoulevard East,overlooking theHudson River.In September 2023, he put the home up for sale for $1.75 million.[14]

Honors and awards

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D'Rivera (third from left) stands alongside other recipients of the 2005National Medal of Arts,and U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush,in theOval Officeon 9 November 2005.

Grammy Awards

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Discography

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D'Rivera in 2013

As leader

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  • Blowin(Columbia, 1981)
  • Mariel(Columbia, 1982)
  • Live at Keystone Korner(Columbia, 1983)
  • Why Not!(Columbia, 1984)
  • Explosion(Columbia, 1986)
  • A Tribute to Cal Tjader(Yemaya, 1986)
  • Manhattan Burn(Columbia, 1987)
  • Celebration(Columbia, 1988)
  • Tico! Tico!(Chesky, 1989)
  • Return to Ipanema(Town Crier, 1989)
  • Reunion(Messidor, 1991)
  • Havana Cafe(Chesky, 1992)
  • Who's Smoking?!(Candid, 1992)
  • La Habana-Rio-Conexion(Messidor, 1992)
  • Paquito D'Rivera Presents 40 Years of Cuban Jam Session(Messidor, 1993)
  • A Night in Englewood(Messidor, 1994)
  • Portraits of Cuba(Chesky, 1996)
  • Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild(MCG, 1997)
  • Hay Solucion(BMG, 1998)
  • 100 Years of Latin Love Songs(Heads Up, 1998)
  • Tropicana Nights(Chesky, 1999)
  • Habanera(Enja, 2000)
  • The Clarinetist Volume One(Peregrina, 2001)
  • Brazilian Dreams(MCG, 2002)
  • Este Camino Largo(Yemaya, 2002)
  • The Lost Sessions(Yemaya, 2002)
  • Big Band Time(Pimienta, 2003)
  • The Jazz Chamber Trio(Chesky, 2005)
  • Benny Goodman Revisited(Connector, 2009)
  • Quartier Latin(LKY, 2009)
  • Panamericana Suite(MCG Jazz, 2010)
  • Tango Jazz(Paquito, 2010)
  • Song for Maura(Sunnyside/Paquito, 2013)
  • Jazz Meets the Classics(Paquito, 2014)
  • Aires Tropicales(Sunnyside/Paquito, 2015)[22]
  • Paquito & Manzanero(Sunnyside/Paquito, 2016)[23]
  • I Missed You Too!(Sunnyside/Paquito Records, 2022)[24]

As sideman

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With Diego Urcola Quartet

  • El Duelo(Sunnyside, 2020)

WithDavid Amram

  • Havana/New York(Flying Fish, 1978)
  • Latin Jazz Celebration(Elektra Musician, 1983)

WithMario Bauza

  • Afro-Cuban Jazz(Caiman, 1986)
  • Tanga(Messidor, 1992)

WithCaribbean Jazz Project

  • The Caribbean Jazz Project(Heads Up, 1995)
  • Island Stories(Heads Up, 1997)
  • The Gathering(Concord Picante, 2002)
  • Mosaic(Concord Picante, 2006)

WithGloria Estefan

  • Mi Tierra(Epic, 1993)
  • Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me(Epic, 1994)

WithCarlos Franzetti

  • Prometheus(Audiophile, 1984)
  • New York Toccata(Verve, 1985)

WithDizzy Gillespie

WithConrad Herwig

  • Another Kind of Blue(Half Note, 2004)
  • Sketches of Spain y Mas(Half Note, 2006)

WithIrakere

  • Irakere(Columbia, 1979)
  • Chekere Son(JVC, 1979)
  • 2(Columbia, 1979)

WithYo-Yo Ma

  • Obrigado Brazil(Sony Classical, 2003)
  • Obrigado Brazil Live in Concert(Sony Classical, 2004)
  • Appassionato(Sony Classical, 2007)
  • Songs of Joy & Peace(Sony Classical, 2008)

WithAndy Narell

  • The Passage(Heads Up, 2004)
  • University of Calypso(Heads Up, 2009)

WithDaniel Ponce

  • New York Now!(Celluloid, 1983)
  • Arawe(Antilles, 1987)

WithClaudio Roditi

  • Red on Red(CTI, 1984)
  • Milestones(Candid, 1992)

WithLalo Schifrin

WithBebo Valdés

  • Bebo Rides Again(Messidor, 1995)
  • El Arte del Sabor(Blue Note, 2001)
  • Suite Cubana(Calle 54, 2009)

With others

References

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  1. ^Harris, Craig."Paquito D'Rivera Biography by Craig Harris".AllMusic.Retrieved6 September2016.
  2. ^D'Rivera, Paquito (4 November 2008).My Sax Life: A Memoir.Northwestern University Press. pp. 152, 164.ISBN978-0-8101-2524-7.
  3. ^Cohen, Anat (22 April 2015)."Jazz Departments: Jazz Is a Blessing: An Interview with Paquito D'Rivera".JazzTimes.Retrieved6 September2016.
  4. ^"Hollywood's Sick Love Affair with Che Guevara",reason.tv; accessed 16 November 2014.
  5. ^"Grammy Award winner Paquito D'Rivera endorses Scotch Plains saxophone manufacturer".NJ.Retrieved24 January2017.
  6. ^D'Rivera criticizes Carlos Santana over Che Guevara T-shirt,independent.org; accessed 16 November 2014.
  7. ^"Biography – Paquito D'Rivera".Paquito D'Rivera.Retrieved24 January2017.
  8. ^"YOA ORCHESTRA OF THE AMERICAS"(PDF).yoa.org.Retrieved23 January2017.
  9. ^"Paquito D'Rivera Biography".Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.Retrieved13 November2008.
  10. ^"Past Judges".independentmusicawards.Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2011.Retrieved16 November2014.
  11. ^"Paquito D'Rivera Quintet – The Band".PaquitoDRivera.Retrieved28 November2023.
  12. ^Harrigan, Tom (31 October 2001)."Alejandro Sanz tops list of Latin Grammy Awards winners".The Daily Gazette.Retrieved7 February2013.
  13. ^Heinis, John (1 June 2012)."Paquito D'Rivera, other Latin legends see their stars unveiled in ceremony at Celia Cruz Plaza in Union City".The Jersey Journal.Retrieved10 September2015.Global icon Paquito D'Rivera, 63...moved to the United States from Cuba in 1980. He currently resides in North Bergen.
  14. ^McGay, Maddie (27 September 2023)."Jazz legend and Grammy award winner puts North Bergen home up for sale for $1.75 million".NorthJersey.Archivedfrom the original on 28 September 2023.Retrieved27 September2023.
  15. ^ab"Paquito D'Rivera | Awards | AllMusic".AllMusic.Retrieved6 September2016.
  16. ^"2013 Best Latin Jazz Album".GRAMMY Awards.30 April 2017.
  17. ^"2014 Best Latin Jazz Album".15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.Retrieved20 December2014.
  18. ^https:// latingrammy /en/awards/16th-annual-latin-grammy-awards-2015[bare URL]
  19. ^"Paquito d'Rivera Awarded Latin Grammy Trustees Award - Paquito d'Rivera".28 November 2022.
  20. ^https:// latingrammy /en/artists/paquito-drivera/20042-01[bare URL]
  21. ^https:// latingrammy /en/artists/paquito-drivera/20042-01[bare URL]
  22. ^"Aires Tropicales – Paquito D'Rivera and Quinteto Cimarron".
  23. ^"Paquito D'Rivera: Paquito & Manzanero".AllMusic.Retrieved6 November2022.
  24. ^"I Missed You Too! – Chucho Valdés and Paquito D'Rivera Reunion Sextet".
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