Happy Birthday Paquito D’Rivera
June 4, 1948
Tico Tico
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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.
Check out Jazz on the Tube’s Cuba Jazz Coverage
Jazz on the Tube has an entire section devoted Cuba and its music.
Details here: Jazz on the Tube – Cuba
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