Paquito D’Rivera is a Cuban classical and jazz legend with 16 Grammy wins (2025). He flows effortlessly between jazz and classical idioms with one of the happiest horns you will ever hear. A founding member of Irakere with Chucho Valdés, Paquito played an important role in the development of jazz and timba in Cuba. More recently, he has been inspired by many forms of Latin American traditional music.
Paquito D’Rivera in New York City
MAY
Sony Hall
Paquito D’Rivera joins the Blue Note Jazz Festival’s James Moody tribute; at Sony Hall in the Times Square Theater District; on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 8pm (6pm doors). From $55. 🇨🇺
APRIL
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Paquito D’Rivera celebrates 70+ years of a legendary career in music with special guests Chucho Valdés, Edmar Castañeda, Roberta Gambarini, Yotam Silberstein, Héctor del Curto, Roberto Vizcaino, Victor Provost, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. It’s in the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center; on Friday-Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 at 7:30pm. jazz.org 🇨🇺 + 🇺🇸 🇦🇷 🇨🇴 🇮🇱 🇮🇹 🇵🇪 🇻🇮
It’s really special to see Paquito and Chucho together. This concert is a tour of the jazz, classical, and folk traditions of the Americas.
Paquito D’Rivera Quintet
- Diego Urcola is a multiple Grammy-nominated Argentine trumpeter. @diego.urcola 🇦🇷
- Alex Brown is a Grammy-winning pianist. @alexbrownmusic 🇺🇸
- Oscar Stagnaro is a Peruvian bassist. @oscarstagnaro 🇵🇪
- Mark Walker is a multiple Grammy-winning drummer. @markwalkerdrums 🇺🇸
Special Guests include:
- Chucho Valdés is a Cuban pianist and founder of Irakere. @chuchovaldesmusic 🇨🇺
- Edmar Castañeda is a Colombian harp virtuoso. @edmarcastaneda 🇨🇴
- Roberta Gambarini is a multi-Grammy nominated, Italian American jazz singer. @robertagambarini3000 🇮🇹
- Yotam Silberstein is an Israeli jazz guitarist. @yotamsilberstein 🇮🇱
- Héctor del Curto is a Grammy-winning Argentine bandoneon player. @hectordelcurto 🇦🇷
- Roberto Vizcaino is a Latin Grammy-winning Cuban percussionist. @roberto.vizcainoguillot 🇨🇺
- Victor Provost a steelpan player from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Steelpan is Trinidadian, but can be found throughout the Lesser Antilles, all the way up to the Virgin Islands. @victorprovostmusic 🇻🇮
- Young People’s Chorus of New York City is an Emmy-winning children’s choir. @ypcofnyc
NOVEMBER
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Paquito D’Rivera with the New Jersey Symphony play D’Rivera’s “Medley for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra” of Gershwin hits; Argentine composer Daniel Freiberg “Latin American Chronicles;” Mexican composer Carlos Chavez “Symphony No. 2;” Aaron Copland “El Salón México,” Mexican composer Arturo Márquez “Danzón No. 2,” and Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo “Huapango;” at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey; on Thursday-Friday, November 7-8, 2024 at 1:30pm and 8pm respectively. On sale August 5. njsymphony.org 🇨🇺 ~ 🇦🇷 🇲🇽 🇺🇸
New York City Venues
Paquito has probably played everywhere in New York City. These are some recent venues:
- Birdland
- Blue Note
- Hostos Center
- Jazz at Lincoln Center
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
- Sony Hall
Paquito D’Rivera
A classically-trained child prodigy, Paquito debuted with the Cuban National Symphony when he was just 19. D’Rivera played a lot of jazz in his middle years, but keeps coming back to classical.
He switches effortlessly between the two idioms. It’s a real joy to hear him do that. Paquito will be bopping away and all of a sudden you’ll recognize Beethoven, Mozart, or Chopin. It’s always a smiling “Wow” moment.
Paquito first gained international attention as a founding member of jazz-rock-folk band Irakere with pianist Chucho Valdés in 1973. The guys wanted to play jazz. The Cuban government of the time wouldn’t allow it. So the band added an African rhythm section and called it folkloric. The result was a hit. Irakere toured the world, won a 1979 Grammy, and influenced everyone who followed. It’s funny to see the old video of Irakere because they were so young then.
As far as we know, Paquito is the only artist to have won Grammy® Awards in both the Classical and Latin Jazz categories.
Albums
Paquito has recorded more than 30 solo albums since 1967 and done many collaborations. 14 of his records are Grammy winners.
Jazz Meets the Classics
Jazz Meets the Classics (2014, Sunnyside/Paquito) won “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 16th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Song For Maura
Song For Maura with Trio Corrente (2013, Sunnyside/Paquito) won “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards and the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Maura is Paquito’s mother.
Panamericana Suite
Panamericana Suite (2010, MCG Jazz) won “Best Classical Contemporary Composition” AND “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. It really is a Panamerican Suite. Paquito touches the music of the entire continent, and we have a lot of different music.
Funk Tango
Funk Tango (2007, Sunnyside) won “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 50th Grammy Awards.
Merengue
Merengue, a live recording with Yo-Yo Ma at Carnegie Hall (2004, Sony Records) won “Best Instrumental Composition” at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards.
Brazilian Dreams
Brazilian Dreams (2002, MCG) won “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Historia del Soldado
Historia del Soldado (2003, DD&R) won “Best Classical Album” at the 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Live at the Blue Note
Live at the Blue Note (2000, Half Note) won “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Tropicana Nights
Tropicana Nights (1999, Chesky) won “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Portraits of Cuba
Portraits of Cuba (1996, Chesky) won “Best Latin Jazz Performance” at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards.
Irakere
Irakere (1978-1979, CBS) won “Best Latin Recording” at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Information
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