Latest News
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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D'Rivera Honored at Seton Hall University
On December 16th, Paquito D'Rivera was honored "...for his illustrious artistry, extraordinary humanitarian efforts, and legendary commitment to better our global community, defend the rights of others, and bring joy through music to the world." The honor was presented at the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall University.
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Tanglewood Announces Jazz Lineup: D'Rivera to Appear Sept. 4
At this year's Tanglewood Jazz Festival, the Boston Symphony announced Paquito D'Rivera will be performing on Sept. 4 in the evening. A three day festival held on Labor Day weekend, performances of the festival (Sept. 4 - 6) are to take place at Seiji Ozawa Hall on the Tanglewood grounds in Lenox, MA. Tickets go on sale Feb. 15 at 8:00 pm.
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All About Jazz Interview "Paquito D'Rivera: Jack of All Trades"
On December 18, Online ezine "All About Jazz", publishes interview with D'Rivera entitled "Paquito D'Rivera: Jack of All Trades".
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D'Rivera Wins 2008 Clarinet of the Year in Reader's Poll
Downbeat Magazine, a publication dedicated to "jazz, blues and beyond" annually holds a Reader's Poll to determine the best in jazz in several categories. To hit the news stands in December 2008, Paquito D'Rivera has for the second year in a row, been elected "Clarinet of the Year" in 2008 by readers of Downbeat Magazine. Early results can be viewed at BMI News with all the categories.
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D'Rivera Honored with Creative Artist Image Award
On October 27, the New York City Comptroller, William C. Thompson, Jr., honored 5 New Yorkers at the Annual Latino Heritage and Culture Celebration. Paquito D'Rivera was one of five honorees recognized for "...outstanding contributions that Latino New Yorkers make to the life of our city..." and was joined by honorees Antonio Perez, President of Borough of Manhattan Community College; Glenis Henriquez, Director of external affairs with the New York City Department of Small Business Services; Susana Tubert, co-founder and executive director of the Latino International Theater; and Erasmo Ponce, founder and president of Tortilleria Chinantla, Inc.
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D'Rivera Awarded Certificate of Gratitude
On October 26, the Society of Cuban American Engineers and Architects, presented Paquito D'Rivera a Certificate of Gratitude in recognition of his achievements as an award winning artist and composer.
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D'Rivera Appears on "Songs of Joy & Peace"
On
October 14, Yo-Yo
Ma released his new album "Songs of Joy
& Peace." This
unique recording deemed "a spiritual journey" has many of Ma's friends
including James Taylor, Diana Krall and Paquito D'Rivera. D'Rivera
appears as Guest Artist on the title track "Invitación al Danzón."
Available at 
.
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Podcast from KPLU Jazz NW Program
Jazz NW program from KPLU has made a podcast of their Sunday program featuring Paquito D'Rivera and Alex Brown, piano who recently performed at Port Townsend Jazz Festival.
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Paquito D'Rivera Receives Frankfurt Music Prize
The Frankfurt Music Prize was founded in 1980 and is awarded annually by the Trustees of the Frankfurt Music Prize Foundation to personalities from the world of music for special achievements in the fields of interpretation, composition, musicology and teaching. The prize is presented each year on the eve of the International Musikmesse (March 11, 2008).
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Funk Tango Wins GRAMMY!
Funk Tango won Category 50 for "Best Latin Jazz Album"
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D'Rivera Signs with Boosey and Hawkes
Boosey and Hawkes is now representing Mr. D'Rivera's compositions.
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Video Interview at Jazz at Lincoln Center
This month, "The Mouthpiece" on the website of Jazz at Lincoln Center, you can view a video interview with Paquito D'Rivera about his appearance at the "Afro-Cuban Fiesta!" in the Rose Theater, Feb. 22 and 23.
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D'Rivera
Receives IAJE President's Award
On January 9, Paquito D'Rivera was presented the IAJE President's Award by the International Association of Jazz Educators. The award recognizes outstanding leaders in the jazz community and honors D'Rivera "for his incalculable impact on the evolution and perpetuation of the Jazz Art Form and for his tremendous commitment and support for Jazz education."
The award was presented in Toronto, Canada, where the annual IAJE Conference was held.
Photo by R. Andrew Lepley
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D'Rivera Honored by Cuban Cultural Center of New York
On December 8 the Cuban Cultural Center of New York presented Paquito D’Rivera with their highest honor. In recognition of his "prodigious talent, long career and exceptional contribution to Cuban culture," he received the Medalla Ignacio Cervantes award. The festive evening at Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall) featured many of his musical compositions, including "Fiddle Dreams," "Contradanza and Vals Venezolano," "Danzoncito," "Kites", "Song for Peace," and selected songs from Paquito's newest work, a zarzuela, "Cecilio Valdés, Rey de La Habana."
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Funk
Tango Nominated for "Best Latin Jazz Recording"
On December 6, the Recording Academy announced the 50th GRAMMY Nominees. Among the many notables of the music industry, Paquito D’Rivera’s Quintet’s new album, Funk Tango, has been nominated for "Best Latin Jazz Recording." Funk Tango, the premiere recording of Paquito Records, is a Critic’s Choice pick of the New York Times. The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on February 10, 2008, and broadcast on television at 8 pm (Eastern time) on CBS.
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FUNK Meets TANGO
Interview with Paquito D'Rivera
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), interviewed Paquito D'Rivera, featured in their Alternate Routes Latin Jazz Weekend, and who is also a resident of New Jersey. D'Rivera's Quintet performed at the Center on Oct. 27 with selections from his new grammy nominated album Funk Tango.
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Paquito D'Rivera Quintet with the Count Basie Orchestra
Review of Philadelphia Concert at the Kimmel Center
The popular guide All About Jazz, reviewed the first concert of the Mellon Jazz Fridays series on September 28 held at the Kimmel Center in Verizon Hall based in Philadelphia, PA. You can read the full article at All About Jazz.
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2007 Latin GRAMMY Nomination
8th Latin GRAMMY Awards
Nomination Best Latin Jazz Album
(Field 10, Jazz Category 33)
Funk Tango - Paquito D'Rivera Quintet
(Paquito Records)
The 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards nominations, announced on August 29, listed Paquito D'Rivera Quintet's Funk Tango album as one of the nominees for Best Latin Jazz Album. The 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will be held November 8, in Las Vegas, Univision Network, 8-11 pm ET/PT.
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Album of the Week
May 31 - Review of Funk Tango by Chip Boaz
Blogger and jazz musician Chip
Boaz (Bass) reviews Funk Tango on "Latin,
Jazz, and the Bass."
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Funk Tango - Critics' Choice
May 21 - Critics' Choice of New CDs with The New York Times
On May 21, The
New York Times reviews Paquito D'Rivera Quintet's new Funk
Tango album in the New CDs Critics' Choice column. Available
for purchase at Sunnyside
Records (for the CD) and .
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Paquito Records Releases Funk Tango
Paquito D'Rivera introduces Paquito Records
First Release -Funk Tango Paquito D'Rivera Quintet?
With over fifty recordings in the varied musical styles that he loves to perform and create, Paquito finally has a label where he can be completely himself. Paquito D'Rivera Quintet? Funk Tango, refers to the fact that the quintet, in Paquito's world can sometimes be a trio or a sextet, or an orchestra, or a duo. The core musicians on the record are Mark Walker on drums, Oscar Stagnaro on bass, Diego Urcola on trumpet and valve-trombone, Alon Yavnai on piano, joined by Pernell Saturnino on percussion, Hector Del Curto on bandoneon, additional pianists Ed Simon, (an old band member), and Fernando Otero, and newcomer Pablo Stagnaro on cajon. This recording features original compositions from many band members, and highlights their diversity of styles in composition and performance. You will surely enjoy the journey, from a funky tango, to Peruvian rhythms on "Mariela's Dream", to the elegant Cuban "Contradanza", by way of a bolero, to a waltz, samba, and milonga, to the closing jazz standard "Giant Steps".
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Guggenheim Fellowship Awards, 2007
Paquito D'Rivera Awarded 2007 Fellowship in Music Composition
Results of the John
Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation’s eighty-third
annual United States and Canadian competition have been announced.
The 2007
Fellowship winners include 189 artists, scholars, and scientists
selected from almost 2,800 applicants. Guggenheim Fellows are
appointed on the basis of distinguished achievement in the
past and exceptional promise for future accomplishment.
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Jazz in Our Time All-Star Opening
Night Concert and Award Ceremony
Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
On March 3, the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC) presented an event “a salute to a generation of extraordinary artists who have helped make jazz America’s greatest music.” The awards ceremony, hosted by James Earl Jones, honored an impressive roster of jazz luminaries with the “Living Jazz Legend Award” for their lifetime contributions to the art form. Paquito D’Rivera, among the more than 25 distinguished recipients, will be performing with the Hank Jones Quartet on March 10. This performance is part of the Jazz in Our Time series celebrating the honorees at the Kennedy Center.
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Composer in Residence
Paquito D'Rivera as 2007-2008
Caramoor Composer-in-Residence
Caramoor
Center for Music and the Arts, just announced it is receiving
$500,000 from the New York State Music Fund towards their Latin
American music initiative, Sonidos Latinos, beginning
in 2007. Paquito D'Rivera is to be named the composer in residence.
Press
release from Caramoor Center
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2006 GRAMMY Nomination
2006 Grammy Nomination
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo (category 47)
49th Annual Grammy Awards
Paquito D'Rivera, soloist
“Paq Man” track from the 2006 CD From The Heart /Hilario
Duran And His Latin Jazz Big Band [Alma Records]
Latin GRAMMY Nomination
2006 Latin Grammy Nomination
Best Instrumental Album(category 27)
7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards
The Chamber Jazz Trio [Chesky Records]
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Best Clarinetist Recognition
2006 Clarinetist of the Year Award
Jazz Journalists Association
A yearly honor bestowed by the Jazz Journalists Association, a professional organization of leading jazz journalists, acknowledging the achievements of jazz musicians, recordings, labels, producers, concert presenters, authors, broadcasters, photographers, and other new media outlets. This is the second time Paquito D'Rivera has been awarded this recognition (first awarded in 2004).
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Most Influential List
2006 Hispanic Business Magazine
100 Influentials List 2006
Produced by Hispanic Business Magazine, this list recognizes the leading and most prominent Hispanics of today.
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A Good Year for Paquito D'Rivera
President Bush Announces 2005 National Medal
of Arts Recipients
Washington, D.C.
- President George W. Bush today announced the recipients of
the 2005
National Medal of Arts. Ten medals will be presented by
the President and Mrs. Laura Bush in an Oval Office ceremony
at the White House on November 10. The National Endowment for
the Arts notified the artists of their selection to receive
a National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor for artistic
excellence.
(White House photo by Eric Draper)
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Jazz History at the Smithsonian
March 2005, Jazz Appreciation Month
National Museum of American History
A picture of the March 21, 2005 presentation
event showing Paquito and other Latin Jazz luminaries donating
personal items, instruments, and compositions to the National
Museum of American History.
(photo by Brenda Feliciano)
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2005 NEA Jazz Master
In January 2005 the National Endowment
for the Arts named Paquito
D'Rivera an NEA Jazz Master, America's highest honor in
jazz.
On the set of
Ramsey Lewis program with the NEA Jazz Masters 2005 which includes
James Moody, Nancy Wilson,
Ramsey Lewis and Paquito D'Rivera
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My Sax Life
A Memoir by Paquito D'Rivera
Meet the Author—Jazz Sensation Paquito D’Rivera
From Washington Post:
"One musician who embodies Nicholson's theory of "globalization" is Paquito D'Rivera, a Cuban-born saxophone and clarinet virtuoso who plays classical music, jazz and Latin dance music with equal skill. A professional musician since the age of 6, D'Rivera has also written a novel, and in My Sax Life (Northwestern Univ., $29.95) he's produced a breathless, sometimes vulgar romp through his life, both before and after his exile from Cuba.
A staunch opponent of Fidel Castro, D'Rivera has no patience for anyone who admires anything about Cuba under communism -- and that includes Nelson Mandela and Gabriel García Márquez. He dramatically describes his 1980 escape, when he sought asylum in Spain and left his wife and son behind. (They were later reunited, but the marriage didn't survive.) D'Rivera recites endless lists of sidemen and recording dates, but he reveals little of his own musical approach, except to praise Brazilian music as "the most balanced formula of rhythm-melody-harmony in the world" and to mock Cuban trumpeters for "playing high-pitched notes that only dogs can hear."Paquito’s autobiography “My Sax Life”is available from Northwestern University Press.
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FUJITSU Jazz Festival
Tribute to Paquito D'Rivera
“50 Years and 10 Nights of Show Business”
CARNEGIE HALL – January 10th
PAQUITO D’RIVERA celebrated “50 Years and 10 Nights” of show business at CARNEGIE HALL on January 10, 2005, with a star-studded program packed with his musical friends!
Carnegie Hall - January 10, 2005