June 4, 1948

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Alto saxophonist, soprano saxophonist, and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera was born on June 4, 1948 in Havana, Cuba.

D’Rivera studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music and by 17 was a featured soloist with the Cuba National Symphony.

He was a founding member of Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna which became “Irakere”, a group that mixed Big Band, with Afro-Cuban music, funk, jazz, and classical. Chucho Valdés and Arturo Sandoval were also members.

Long frustrated with the Cuban government’s then “anti-jazz” policy which was particularly strong in the 1960s/70s, he left the country in 1981.

This piece which was performed as part of a tribute to Charlie Parker on March 9th, 2013 was composed by brazilian musician Zequinha de Abreu.

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Details here: Jazz on the Tube – Cuba

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