Search - Paquito D'Rivera :: The Clarinetist: Volume One

Paquito Swings His Own Classics

Fred Bouchard | Brookline, MA, USA | 08/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This winning, sophisticated session pits Paquito's clarinet against chamber orchestra, in both jazz combo and turn-on-a-dime classical trio. The centerpiece, a 3-movement transcription of Argentine master Astor Piazzola's magnificent Concerto for Bandoneon, features Triángulo (Paquito with Argentine pianist Pablo Zinger and cellist Gustavo Tavares). They cross borders, geographical and musical, combining gimlet-eyed tango (love child of Cuban habañera), breezy swing, knife-edged solos, and deft ensembles. The jazzier "Habana" and "Brussels In The Rain" have a super rhythm section, with Frank Chastenier on limber piano and Purnell Saturnino popping congas under the strings. On Angel Lasala's Trio No. 1 -- Bartók's "Contrasts" gone Latino -- Triángulo wafts bougainvillea-by-moonlight exchanges from cello to clarinet. On "Dizzyness," Paquito playfully codifies licks from mentor Gillespie's book: "Night In Tunisia" variations, "Con Alma" coda. He's relaxed and fluent, showing Artie Shaw's lightly fruity tone and supple lines, garlanded with will-o-the-wisp licks of Buddy DeFranco's bebop."