Throughout Paquito D’Rivera’s life, music has been his constant companion. The 76-year old jazz legend and pioneer has played on stages across the world and is still winning awards across genres. In 2023, he received two Latin Grammys for Best Latin Jazz Album and Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
But Paquito’s story isn’t about the awards or the accolades. “I don’t get my head full of smoke,” he tells Latino USA. “My real awards are the people that I have the chance to work with, people that I have met during my life.”
Paquito D’Rivera picked up his first saxophone in his native Cuba when he was just five years old—and had his first public performance the next year. He was called a child prodigy.
In his teens, Paquito became a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba. A few years later, he became one of the founding members and co-director of Irakere, an experimental and groundbreaking band that fused jazz, rock, classical and afro-cuban music. That mixing of genres is something that has defined Paquito’s career.
Even though he was a successful musician in Cuba, in 1980, Paquito left his country because of politics. “Jazz was a four letter word. Not prohibited. That is the problem. They don’t prohibit nothing, but you know that that is not good to do. You should do something else,” says Paquito.
Paquito defected and ultimately relocated to New York City. “Since I was a kid, I always dreamed of being a musician in the city of New York City”, he recalls. That dream came from growing up listening to the recording of Benny Goodman playing in Carnegie Hall.
He joined a vibrant and growing Latin Jazz scene in New York, playing with legendary artists like Hilton Ruiz, Jorge Dalto and Claudio Roditi. Paquito built a successful career and celebrated 50 years of being a musician by making one of his dreams come true: playing a concert with his friends at Carnegie Hall.
Maria Hinojosa and Paquito D’Rivera in his home. (Photograph by Glorimar Marquez)In this conversation with Maria Hinojosa, Paquito talks about the places music has taken him, the people he’s met along the way, and the ways he’s improvising his way into the next chapter of his life.
Featured image by Geandy Pavon.
This episode was produced by Victoria Estrada with production assistance from Glorimar Márquez and edited by Alejandra Salazar. It was mixed by Julia Caruso with engineering support from J.J. Querubin.
