PAQUITO D'RIVERA: PORTRAITS OF CUBA (ONE - STEP)

Performer: Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet and saxophone; Carlos Franzetti, arrangements
Artist: Paquito D'Rivera
Number of discs: 1
Barcode: 4895241447358
Label: Evolution Music Group
Format: LP
Genre: Jazz
Year: 2026

180-gram audiophile LP

One-Step Pressing

New liner notes

“Portraits Of Cuba” reflects Paquito D'Rivera's musical journey: a unique fusion of Cuban music and jazz that celebrates both the artist's roots and his love for this American art form. Far beyond the boundaries of pop music, the album is this extraordinary jazz musician's tribute to Cuba's timeless heritage.

Magnificently orchestrated by arranger and conductor Carlos Franzetti and impeccably performed by D'Rivera and eighteen highly experienced musicians, “Portraits Of Cuba” was recorded live, without overdubs, over two days in February 1996 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in New York City. A single high-resolution microphone was used to capture the beautiful, natural reverberation of the historic church.

In 1997, D'Rivera won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance for “Portraits Of Cuba”. The German magazine Audio wrote about the album: “When Paquito D'Rivera brings the clarinet, alto saxophone or soprano saxophone to his lips, he produces exactly those tones that touch the heart directly: delicate and strong, clear and powerful, masculine yet full of empathy”.

The American magazine Stereo wrote: “Despite the bitter cold during the recording session, the 18 musicians revisit 100 years of Cuban musical tradition from a jazz perspective with such vitality and elegance that it feels as though one is at a warm Caribbean fiesta rather than inside St. Peter's Church in New York while snow falls outside. Chesky engineer Bob Katz captured the intricate interplay between the soloists and the band, as well as between the brass and rhythm sections, with remarkable openness and liveliness”.

The AllMusic Guide even places the entire album on a par with Evans's most spectacular and significant session, “Sketches Of Spain”.

“Portraits Of Cuba” is an incomparable gem in the Chesky Records catalogue, and Evosound is proud to present this reissue of the wonderful album on LP. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at 33⅓ RPM, it uses the superior One-Step process for the first time, brilliantly showcasing Chesky's renowned production and recording techniques!