Portraits of Cuba (Remastered) Paquito D'rivera

• 1 La Bella Cubana 03:09
• 2 The Peanut Vendor 03:16
• 3 Tu 03:42
• 4 Tu Mi Delirio 02:54
• 5 No Te Importe Saber 05:02
• 6 Drume Negrita 02:50
• 7 Portraits of Cuba 03:37
• 8 Excerpt from "Aires Tropicales" 03:56
• 9 Mariana 04:21
• 10 Como Arrullo De Palmas 04:02
• 11 Echale Salsita 03:14
• 12 Song to My Son 03:44
• 13 Theme from "I Love Lucy" 03:44
• Total Runtime 47:31

Info for Portraits of Cuba (Remastered)

Diese absolut klassische Jazzaufnahme trägt den Titel Portraits of Cuba und ist ein Meilenstein-Projekt von Paquito D'Rivera. Das von Carlos Franzetti arrangierte Big-Band-Ensemble bietet ein orchestrales Ambiente, das an den legendären Gil Evan-Sound mit Miles Davis in dem Klassiker „Sketches of Spain“ erinnert. Diese Aufnahme könnte zu keinem besseren Zeitpunkt erscheinen, da sie einen künstlerischen Kommentar zu einem nationalen und sozialen Wandel darstellt, wie er sich in einem neuen und sich entwickelnden Kuba entfaltet. Es ist wirklich ein Werk, das weltweit Beifall finden wird, denn die Qualität der Texte und der Darbietung ist auf einem Niveau, das nur wenige Künstler heute erreichen können. Paquito D'Rivera liefert einige der inspiriertesten Improvisationen seiner bisherigen Karriere, und das für diese Aufnahme ausgewählte Material sind bekannte Klassiker der populären lateinamerikanischen Musiktradition.

Bestes Latin Jazz Album der 39th Annual Grammy Awards!

"Eine "Conexion Latina" der besonderen Art. Paquito D'Rivera, der Jazz-Bläser aus Kuba mit Wohnsitz New York, trifft auf Carlos Franzetti, den ebenfalls in Manhattan lebenden Arrangeur klassisch notierter lateinamerikanischer Musik. 1991 hatte D'Rivera zum Debüt-Album von Franzettis Orquesta Nova ein Streichquartett beigesteuert, nun zeichnet das Duo 13 formvollendete "Portraits Of Cuba"; eine farbenfrohe Gemäldegalerie und ein Begleitkommentar zum rasanten gesellschaftlichen Wandel auf der Zuckerrohrinsel. Die kubanischen Skizzen haben ein musikalisches Vorbild: Im Winter 1959/60 nahm Trompeter Miles Davis mit dem Orchesterleiter Gil Evans die für den großformatigen Jazz wegweisenden "Sketches Of Spain" auf. Was D'Rivera, der Mann der Bühne, assistiert von Franzetti, dem Mann der Noten, nun ausheckte, ist nicht weniger faszinierend - aber ungleich quirliger, lebhafter. Trotz beißender Kälte bei der Einspielung lassen die 18 Musiker 100 Jahre kubanische Klangtradition aus dem Jazz-Blickwinkel so spritzig und elegant Revue passieren, daß man sich auf einer heißen karibischen Fiesta wähnt, nicht aber in der New Yorker St. Peter's Church, während draußen der Schnee fällt. Chesky-Ingenieur Bob Katz nahm das komplexe Geschehen zwischen Solisten und Band wie zwischen Bläsern und Rhythmikern sehr luftig und vital auf." (stereoplay)

Paquito D'Rivera, Saxophon
Carlos Franzetti, Dirigent
Lawrence Feldman, Altsaxophon, Flöte
Dicl Oatts, Tenorsaxophon, Flöte
Andres Boiarsky, Tenorsaxophon, Klarinette, Flöte
Roger Rosenberg, Baritonsaxophon, Bassklarinette, Fagott
Lew Soloff, Trompete, Flügelhorn
Diego Urcola, Trompete, Flügelhorn
Gustavo Bergalli, Trompete, Flügelhorn
John Clark, Französisch Horn
James Pugh, Posaune
David Taylor, Bassposaune
Allison Brewster Franzetti, Klavier
David Finck, Bass
Mark Walker, Schlagzeug
Pernell Saturnino, Perkussion

Digital remastered

Paquito D'rivera
has won a combined 16 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards (5 Grammy and 11 Latin Grammys). He is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer.

Born in Havana, Cuba, he performed at age 10 with the National Theater Orchestra, studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music, and at 17, became a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony. As a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, he directed that group for two years, while at the same time playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He eventually went on to premiere several works by notable Cuban composers with the same orchestra. Additionally, he was a founding member and co-director of the innovative musical ensemble Irakere. With its explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music never before heard, Irakere toured extensively throughout America and Europe, received several GRAMMY nominations (1979, 1980), and a GRAMMY (1979).

His numerous recordings include more than 30 solo albums. In 1988, he was a founding member of the United Nation Orchestra, a 15-piece ensemble organized by Dizzy Gillespie to showcase the fusion of Latin and Caribbean influences with jazz. D’Rivera continues to appear as guest conductor. A GRAMMY was awarded the United Nation Orchestra in 1991, the same year D’Rivera received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carnegie Hall for his contributions to Latin music. Additionally, D’Rivera’s highly acclaimed ensembles- the Chamber Jazz Ensemble, the Paquito D’Rivera Big Band, and the Paquito D’Rivera Quintet are in great demand world wide.

While Paquito D’Rivera’s discography reflects a dedication and enthusiasm for Jazz, Bebop and Latin music, his contributions to classical music are impressive. They include solo performances with the London Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has also performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Costa Rica National Symphony, the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, and the St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, among others. In his passion to bring Latin repertoire to greater prominence, Mr. D’Rivera has successfully created, championed and promoted all types of classical compositions, including his three chamber compositions recorded live in concert with distinguished cellist Yo-Yo Ma in September 2003. The chamber work “Merengue,” from that live concert at Zankel Hall, was released by Sony Records and garnered Paquito his 7th GRAMMY as Best Instrumental Composition 2004.

In addition to his extraordinary performing career as an instrumentalist, Mr. D’Rivera has rapidly gained a reputation as an accomplished composer. The prestigious music house, Boosey and Hawkes, is the exclusive publisher of Mr. D’Rivera’s compositions. Recent recognition of his compositional skills came with the award of a 2007 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition, and the 2007-2008 appointment as Composer-In-Residence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. As part of the Caramoor Latin American music initiative, Sonidos Latinos, D’Rivera’s new concerto for double bass and clarinet/saxophone, “Conversations with Cachao,” pays tribute to Cuba’s legendary bass player, Israel “Cachao” Lopez. D’Rivera’s works often reveal his widespread and eclectic musical interests, which range from Afro-Cuban rhythms and melodies, including influences encountered in his many travels, and back to his classical origins. Inspiration for another recent composition, “The Cape Cod Files”, comes from such disparate sources as Benny Goodman’s intro to the Eubie Blake popular song “Memories of You”, Argentinean Milonga, improvisations on the music of Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, and North American boogie-woogie. His numerous commissions include compositions for Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress, the National Symphony Orchestra and Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Turtle Island String Quartet, Ying String Quartet, the International Double Reed Society, Syracuse University, Montreal’s Gerald Danovich Saxophone Quartet, and the Grant Park Music Festival.

Another commission came about through ensemble Opus 21’s interest in building bridges between audiences of different backgrounds. Dedicated to the works and art music of the 21st century, Opus 21 commissioned “The Chaser” and premiered it in May, 2006. In 2005, Imani Winds, a woodwind quintet committed to the exploration of diverse world music traditions and the broadening of the traditional wind quintet literature, commissioned “Kites.” This work personifies freedom and the vision that liberty and independence have a foundation through culture and music. Just as a kite may fly freely, its path continues to be bound to the earth–its foundation, by the string. ...

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