Paquito D'Rivera

Cuban saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera has achieved success in both the jazz and classical music forms with more than 30 solo albums that cross genres and performances around the world with jazz ensembles and major orchestras. He learned to play the saxophone as a child and later studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music. After a stint as featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra he teamed with pianist Chucho Valdés to establish the Orchestra Cubana de Musica Moderna and then the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere.

He defected from Cuba in 1981 and in New York he released his debut solo album 'Paquito Blowin'' followed in 1982 by 'Mariel'. Switching seamlessly between bebop, Latin jazz and classical music, he has performed with the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, Florida Philharmonic and Brooklyn Philharmonic.

Also a composer, he has performed commissioned works with the National Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony. He created and has won awards with the United Nation Orchestra and the Paquito D'Rivera Quintet. His most recent album was 'Paquito & Manzanero' with arranger, composer and featured artist Armando Manzanero.