Paquito D'RIVERA

Paquito D'Rivera is an extraordinary musician whose virtuosity as both an instrumentalist and a composer have catapulted him to a unique position of influence in a number of diverse musical worlds.

Born and raised in Cuba, Mr. D'Rivera was a child prodigy trained as a classical clarinetist and saxophonist. He performed with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra and later founded the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna. It was his founding of the group Irakere, however, which eventually brought Mr. D'Rivera international renown. Irakere was a group whose explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical, and traditional Cuban music had never been heard before, and was a perfect reflection of Paquito D'Rivera's wide-ranging musical palette.

In 1981, after touring and recording for several years, Mr. D'Rivera defected to the U.S., where he has pursued an unusual career as an exponent of classical, jazz, and Latin musics. Not only can he play these styles in their purest forms, but it is his unique ability to gracefully blend them which has completely set him apart from other composers and instrumentalists. An enthusiastic and oft-commissioned composer of chamber music, Mr. D'Rivera also sits on the boards of Chamber Music International and Chamber Music America. Paquito D'Rivera has recorded over 24 solo albums and has twice received the Grammy Award, most recently for his highly acclaimed Portraits of Cuba.

For more information contact Kathryn King: 212-246-2215