The border between classical and jazz music has always been a fluid one, with composers from each camp finding inspiration on both sides of the divide.
The Grammy Award winning woodwind master Paquito D’Rivera has a long history with classical music. As a young boy, he was introduced to a wide variety of music, from Mozart to Ellington, by his classical saxophone playing father in Cuba. On his new recording – Jazz Meets the Classics, D’Rivera and his wonderful ensemble have recorded intriguing arrangements of the classical repertoire of legendary composers, including Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart, for a jazz sextet.
An invigorating blend of influences that have made Paquito D’Rivera the musician he is today inform the music on Jazz Meets the Classics. The mixture of jazz, classical and Afro-Latin traditions into a cohesive whole is wonderfully executed by the leader and his phenomenal sextet.
The ensemble convened and recorded the album live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York City on June 14, 2012.
Download the full press release.
Paquito D’Rivera Sextet Ensemble
Paquito D’Rivera – Alto Sax/ Clarinet
Diego Urcola – trumpeter/trombonist
Alex Brown, pianist
Oscar Stagnaro, bassist
Arturo Stable, percussionist
Mark Walker, drummer
Pepe Rivero, Special guest pianist
Tracks
Fantasia Impromptu
Beethoven Peru
Paquito Introduces
Adagio
Die Zauberclarinete
Al Fin Te Vi
Las Abejas
Vals de la Media Hora
Nocturno en la Celda
Pa Bebo
E Minor Prelude
Sunnyside Records/Paquito Records
