Latest News
Paquito D'Rivera - Voted "Clarinetist of the Year" by DownBeat Readers!
December 7, 2009 - For the third year in a row, Paquito D'Rivera has been voted by DownBeat Magazine Reader's Poll the Best Clarinetist. Now on the cover of DownBeat magazine, December issue, D'Rivera is interviewed on his impact on the development of jazz thinking.
"Jazz
- claZZ" Album and D'Rivera Received Two GRAMMY Nominations
December 2, 2009 - "Jazz-claZZ" with D'Rivera and special guest Trio Clarone with Sabine Meyer, Reiner Wehle, Wolfgang Myer album release on Timba Records, has just been nominated in two categories for the GRAMMYS.
First Nomination:
Field 21 — Composing/Arranging, Category 84 - Best Instrumental Composition
Borat In Syracuse
Paquito D'Rivera, composer (Paquito D'Rivera Quintet)
Track from: Jazz-Clazz
[Timba Records]
Second Nomination:
Field 28 - Classical, Category 107 - Best Classical Crossover Album
(listed twice in this category)
Jazz-Clazz
Paquito D'Rivera Quintet (Trio Clarone)
[TIMBA Records]
Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace
Yo-Yo Ma (Odair Assad, Sergio Assad, Chris Botti, Dave Brubeck, Matt Brubeck,
John Clayton, Paquito d'Rivera, Renée Fleming, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss,
Natalie McMaster, Edgar Meyer, Cristina Pato, Joshua Redman, Jake Shimabukuro,
Silk Road Ensemble, James Taylor, Chris Thile, Wu Tong, Alon Yavnai & Amelia
Zirin-Brown)
[Sony Classical]
Downbeat Magazine and D'Rivera, Honorees for Champions of Jazz
On November 3, the Champions of Jazz benefit and WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM honor Paquito D'Rivera and Downbeat Magazine. This year marks the 30th anniversary of broadcasting and the Champions of Jazz benefit. The event will be celebrated at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City.
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra will be the featured
entertainer this year, and Freddy Cole and Stefon Harris are some of the
guest entertainers, and D'Rivera will of course want to play with everybody.
In addition, Lester Holt, Anchor of TODAY and the NBC Nightly News, weekend
editions, will be our master of ceremonies.
Downbeat Magazine, in the spirit of this celebration,
will feature D'Rivera on the cover of their December issue, along with an
interview discussing this and other important events in our jazz community.
Paquito D'Rivera to be Awarded Medal of Honor
On October 26th Paquito D'Rivera will be awarded the Medal of Honor from the National Arts Club in New York, NY. NAC, one of the oldest private arts club in the country, have included such illustrious members as three past presidents, literary figures, composers, musicians, and painters. A portrait of Mr. D'Rivera will be unveiled.
Tanglewood Jazz Festival Sept. 4
In Lenox, MA on Sept. 4, Paquito D'Rivera's Quintet and guests amazed Tanglewood Jazz Festival attendees with the new "Conversations with Cachao", "Fiddle Dream", and fun sambas and tangos. Read more at the Berkshire Eagle.
Review by Jazz.com about "Conversations with Cachao" by D'Rivera and unique take on the new work.
Stereoplay Magazine Gives "Jazz - claZZ" CD "Die Audiophile" Award
In the August 2009 publication of "Stereoplay" Magazine, the June European release of "Jazz - clazz" CD received the "Die Audiophile" award. "Jazz - claZZ" features Paquito D'Rivera Quintet with special guests Trio Clarone with Sabine Meyer (clarinet), Reiner Wehle, and Wolfgang Meyer.
The recording is available through Timba Records in Europe and worldwide through iTunes.
Concert at the White House Jazz Studio
On June 15, Paquito D'Rivera, Artistic Advisor of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, presented at the White House Jazz Studio. Starting with clinics, Paquito. D'Rivera was invited by Wynton Marsalis to participate in his clinic session (several were occuring in the various rooms). Mr. D'Rivera, presenting a special performance at the conclusion of the event of the day, invited Wynton Marsalis to join him and the students in the special White House Jazz performance.
You can read more about the event at the New York Times.
Video of Mrs. Obama introducing the White House Studio:
On
JazzSet Hear Paquito's Latin Side of Jazz
On the Web: at jazzset.npr.org beginning May 29
On the Air: Check your local NPR station
listings for broadcast for date & time WBGO / 88.3
Sunday, May 31, 6:00 pm, Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 pm
Happy Birthday, Paquito D'Rivera, born June 4!
IRC Honors Paquito D'Rivera the "A Champion of Freedom" Award
On January 22, 2009, the International Rescue Committee presented Mr. D'Rivera with "A Champion of Freedom" award at the Celebration of its 75th Anniversary. The Gala took place at Freedom Tower in Miami, Florida, Mr. D'Rivera gave a concert following the presentation.
Walker's
Band Plays for President Obama's Private Party
Last Sunday evening (Jan. 18), members of grammy winning Paquito D'Rivera's band lead by their drummer Mark Walker, performed for President Obama's private party for friends at the Blair House. Mark Walker who grew up in Chicago, now resides in Boston. You can read more about the event which included Oprah Winfrey.
Band members: Oscar Stagnaro - Bass, Alex Brown - Piano, Mark Walker - Drums, Diego Urcola - Trumpet/Trombone
Jazz at Lincoln Center & Rockefeller Foundation Present
"A Celebration of America" at the Kennedy Center
On the occasion of the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, "A Celebration of America" will be lead by Wynton Marsalis andThe Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor. Paquito D'Rivera will participate in this all-star cast of America's music,at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, January 19 at 7:00 pm. Ticket are no longer available for this event.
The Concert is sponsored by the Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Artists Announced (update Jan. 13)
Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance have been confirmed as hosts. The following artists have been confirmed: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bela Fleck, Cassandra Wilson, Chorale Le Chateau of New York City conducted by Damien Sneed, Dave Brubeck, Dianne Reeves, Don Vappie, Dr. Michael White, Foxborough (MA) High School Jazz Ensemble, Francesco Cafiso, Freddy Cole, Giovanni Hidalgo, Grace Kelly, Herlin Riley, Jared Grimes, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jessye Norman, Jonathan Batiste, Lucian Barberin, Marcus Gilmore, Mark O’Connor, Odadaa! with Yacub Addy, Paquito D’Rivera with Diego Urcola, Alex Brown, Oscar Stagnaro, and Mark Walker, Roy Haynes and Shannon Powell.
"Legend of Jazz" Mentors High School Musicians
South Florida Times describes D'Rivera's question-and-answer session with high school musicians prior to concert at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. The students participated in a jazz workshop and later watched the actual concert.
New York Times - Hamming It Up With a Cuban Accent
New York Times review of Paquito D'Rivera new Cuban Band at the Jazz at Lincoln Center.