Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera: A Musical Life Across Borders
Paquito D’Rivera was born in Havana, Cuba, on June 4, 1948. His father was a classical saxophonist and a music educator, so D’Rivera grew up surrounded by music. That environment clearly left its mark. From a young age, he was already showing signs of the wide-ranging musical voice that would come to define his career.
He began his formal studies at the Havana Conservatory of Music, where he focused on classical music. But like many musicians from Cuba, he couldn’t help being drawn to the rhythms and sounds of his own culture. At the same time, jazz was calling to him with its freedom and complexity. Over the years, all of those influences would blend together in his playing and composing. You can hear it in his tone and in the way he phrases lines: a mix of structure and spontaneity.
In Cuba, he was recognized early as a prodigious talent. He played both saxophone and clarinet at a high level, which is no small feat, and worked with many respected orchestras and groups. But the political climate under Castro made it hard for musicians who wanted to explore beyond approved limits. Like several others from his generation, he eventually made the difficult decision to leave Cuba. In 1980, he defected to the United States.
Once in the U.S., his career really opened up. He collaborated with artists from all over the world and became a respected figure in both jazz and classical circles. D’Rivera never seemed confined by genre. One moment he was playing in a small jazz group, the next he was writing or soloing with a symphony orchestra. That flexibility became a hallmark of his work.
His albums from the 1980s, like Paquito Blowin’ and Why Not?, show how comfortable he was moving between jazz, Latin music, and classical sounds. You’ll find elegant melodic lines, rich harmonies, and deep rhythmic grooves in much of his work. It’s music that rewards careful listening.
Beyond performing, D’Rivera also spent time teaching and mentoring younger musicians. He’s given master classes around the world, and his commitment to passing on knowledge is part of what makes him such a respected figure. Over the course of his career, he’s received multiple Grammy Awards and other honors — recognition for a lifetime of serious and adventurous music-making.
What makes D’Rivera especially noteworthy is how he brings very different musical worlds together. It’s not forced. It feels natural, because for him, those styles have always lived side by side. He’s a reminder that music doesn’t have to stay in one lane. When done well, crossing genres can open up entirely new roads.
Seeing Paquito D’Rivera Live
I saw Paquito D’Rivera perform live with the United Nation Orchestra at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago in around 1993. Back then, the Jazz Showcase was located in the lobby of the Blackstone Hotel, at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and East Balbo Drive, near Grant Park.
This was a couple of years after Dizzy Gillespie passed away. Gillespie had been a mentor to Arturo Sandoval after Sandoval defected from Cuba, and both of them — along with D’Rivera — had been part of the original United Nation Orchestra. The group was founded in New York in the early 1980s and brought together many incredible players from around the world.
By the time I saw them, Sandoval had become the de facto leader of the band. On that night, D’Rivera played both alto saxophone and Bb clarinet, and he played them both with complete mastery. His tone on the alto sax was very clean, very precise — a bit more on the classical side. At that time, I leaned more towards the rawer, grittier sounds of players like Hank Crawford, Jackie McLean, and Bud Shank.
But hearing D’Rivera play that night, I respected the clarity and control of his sound. Now, in 2025, with almost 40 more years of added experiences, I appreciate his sound much more. There’s beauty in the great diversity of saxophone voices. Life would be boring if everybody interpreted how the saxophone should sound in the exact same way. I appreciate Paquito D'Rivera's beautiful sound much more today than I did back then.
References:
- "Paquito D'Rivera." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paquito_D%27Rivera. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.