Jazz Articles about Paquito D'Rivera

Oscar Penas: Music Of Departures And Returns

by Dan Bilawsky
May 3, 2014

In putting together his fourth album, guitarist Oscar Penas looked to composers he connects with, songs that speak to him, and originals that fit comfortably with the rest. That's the concept here, plain and simple, and the end result is a thirty-eight minute beauty that's alluring and completely accessible. Two different rhythm sections and three guests come and go during these eight tracks, but Penas' presence ties everything together. The first three numbers--a cheery choro featuring clarinetist ...

Alex Brown: Pianist

by Edward Blanco
October 1, 2011

With a little help from Cuban-born saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera the jazz world heralds the entrance of 22 year-old Alex Brown, capturing but a glimpse of his talents on a monster recording debut simply entitled Pianist. It was actually D'Rivera's bassist, Oscar Stagnaro,who began to gig with pianist around the Boston area, ultimately introducing Brown to D'Rivera, and the rest is history. Taken with Brown's skills on the instrument and his understanding of Latin music beyond Afro-Cuban rhythms, D'Rivera took him ...

Paquito D'Rivera: Jazz at the Heart

by R.J. DeLuke
January 25, 2011

There is almost nothing Paquito D'Rivera hasn't accomplished since his arrival on the U.S. jazz scene in the early 1980s, when the young Cuban arrived from Spain--the first spot he hid when he defected from his home nation and its Communist rule that denied personal freedoms and forced musicians playing jazz to call it something else in order to avoid punishment.It was in Madrid that he bided his time until he could make it to New York City, ...

Paquito D'Rivera: Tango Jazz: Live at Lincoln Center

by Raul d'Gama Rose
December 5, 2010

One of the greatest love affairs in music is the one between folk music and dance. This extremely covert relationship has spilled over into contemporary music as well--more so in musical excursions in Europe (where even Igor Stravinsky sang its praises with compositions of his own) and in Latin America. One of the most beloved of all these affairs is the storied one of the tango: a voluptuous one between characters born in countries as far removed as Finland, Spain ...

The New Paquito D'Rivera

by Nick Catalano
November 7, 2010

Several years ago I attended a performance at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola starring Paquito D'Rivera and a new ensemble that he had organized dubbed the Panamericana orchestra. It was a notable evening and I was very enthusiastic about the music and eagerly wrote about it in New York Beat.I had had some history with D'Rivera starting in the early '80s soon after he had defected from Cuba. He had arrived in New York with his alto sax blazing multi-noted ...

Alex Brown: Pianist

by Raul d'Gama Rose
October 29, 2010

Even for a pianist with as prodigious a talent as Alex Brown, having a heavyweight in the music pantheon such as Paquito D'Rivera produce the debut album, must have largely been a dream. However, to pull off a debut as fine as this is a feat in itself. As a pianist, Brown has remarkable technique. Although he may still be searching for his true voice and that may take time, he appears to be closer than most. He is truly ...

Paquito D'Rivera: Jack of All Trades

by Marcia Hillman
December 18, 2008

Paquito D'Rivera, Cuban-born alto saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, bandleader and author is a “jack of all trades" and master of all.

He is a winner of several Grammys and other prestigious awards, has recorded over 30 albums as a leader and is constantly working. He took time out to speak with All About Jazz. All About Jazz: With the exception of your early life in Cuba, your career has involved a lot of traveling all over ...