D’Rivera is widely celebrated for both his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. Born in Havana, Cuba, D’Rivera 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.
A founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, D’Rivera directed the group for two years, while at the same time playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony 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, won several Grammy nominations (1979, 1980) and a Grammy (1979).
NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera’s 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.
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. 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.
The National Endowment for the Arts website affirms “[D’Rivera] has become the consummate multinational ambassador, creating and promoting a cross-culture of music that moves effortlessly among jazz, Latin, and Mozart.”
All Studio Club Members are invited to attend D’Rivera’s live performance at KUVO! To reserve a seat for you and your guest, contact Arvida at Arvida@KUVO.org or 303-446-7631.
9(MDA3NDU1Nzc2MDEzMDUxMzY3MzAwNWEzYQ004))
