Fantasías Barcelónicas – Tribute to Paquito D’Rivera
Barcelona Clarinet Players
and Paquito D’Rivera
Paquito Records/Sunnyside
New Album with Paquito D’Rivera Compositions
This new album, Fantasías Barcelónicas – Tribute to Paquito D’Rivera, is with the Barcelona Clarinet Players and features Paquito D’Rivera. It is entirely comprised of works by D’Rivera, adapted specifically for them.
The Barcelona Clarinet Players are a brilliantly agile group that seamlessly moves between classical, jazz, and other genres. Group members are Manuel Martínez – clarinet, Javier Vilaplana – clarinet, Martí Guasteví – basset horn, and Alejandro Castillo – bass clarinet. Paquito D’Rivera also plays with the group on five tracks on clarinet and alto saxophone.
From my very first visit in the summer of 1980, the city of Barcelona fascinated me in all it’s senses, from Montjuic, Las Ramblas and the monumental cathedral of La Sagrada Familia to the Palau de la Música, La Boquer a market and Plaza de España. This must have influenced positively in my relationship with the members of the “Barcelona Clarinet Players,” which was love at first sight that began in 2018 during my conversation with the outstanding Cuban-Spanish pianist Pepe Rivero at the AIE headquarters in Barcelona.
That afternoon they told me about the arrangement they had made of my “Afro” for a music program for children, so when I got back home I started sending them pieces of mine adapted from versions for previous formats, such as “Cuban Sharks”, “A Farewell Mambo”, “The Elephant and the Clown”, “La Fleur de Cayenne”,”Kites over Havana” or “Wapango”.
All of this until one fine day the restless Barcelona Clarinetists got excited and commissioned me an original work for this very special musical ensemble. “Fantasías Barcelónicas” was born, moved by three emblematic Catalan artists whom I have admired for years: The inspired novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafón, who narrated the mysteries of the night in Barcelona, the charismatic pianist Tete Montoliu, whose sense of swing and jazz improvisation are an indispensable part of the soundtrack of the city where Mir and Caball were born; and finally the brilliant architect Antoni Gaud , who with his amazing and luminous style, fills the streets of his native land with unrepeatable architectural gems.
The fact that this extraordinary group of fellow clarinetists decided on recording a CD with works of my own honors me by offering me the opportunity to sing publicly my love for this magical city and my devotion to some of his most beloved children.
Paquito D’Rivera, December 2021
Musicians
Paquito D’Rivera – alto saxophone and clarinet
Manuel Martínez – clarinet
Javier Vilaplana – clarinet
Martí Guasteví – basset horn
Alejandro Castillo – bass clarinet
Tracks
A Farewell Mambo *
Monk-Tuno
Kites over Havana *
The Elephant and the Clown *
Wapango *
Cuban Sharks
La Fleur de Cayenne
Fantasias Barcelonicas: I. La sombra del viento
Fantasias Barcelonicas: II. Mamblues pal Tete
Fantasias Barcelonicas: III. Choro Gaudiano
Bachrinets *
* Featuring Paquito D’Rivera – clarinet, alto sax
