Paquito D'Rivera Takes His Music to the Streets

November 30, 2023

Just days after his double award win at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, Paquito D'Rivera has been seen on the streets sharing brief musical notes and his perpetual smile, which earned him dozens of comments and thousands of reactions on social media.

To the amazement of many, the instrument that Paquito D'Rivera was playing turned out to be an Ophicleide, considered by experts as the "grandfather" of the saxophone. The Ophicleide belongs to the family of brass wind instruments and is sometimes confused with the tuba, because they share some similarities in terms of their function and sound.

But it is an ancient instrument dating from the 19th century, and while it was popular in classical music, it was replaced by similar instruments such as the tuba itself in the 1900s. Hence the amazement of many internet users upon seeing D'Rivera performing a brief melody with this very old object.

His followers were quick to comment that he is "one of the best musicians in the world," and deservedly so: for decades this great Cuban has given millions the distinctive sound of the island and has influenced art through his compositions and creative ability.

"Happy Wednesday to everyone!", the artist wished in the brief text he posted on Instagram, something that would not be difficult after seeing him play with the blend of elegance, humility and joy that characterizes him, even if only for a few brief seconds.

A few days ago the artist shared other images informing his followers that he was visiting Almería, Spain, the country where he recently received his two Latin Grammys.

Paquito D'Rivera, born in 1948, is recognized for his versatility as a composer and arranger and his musical talents playing the clarinet and saxophone, among other instruments. His contribution to Cuban music and also on the international stage have made him a paradigm for several generations.

In Cuba, he was one of the founding members of the influential group Irakere, one of the most innovative and emblematic groups of the Cuban music scene of the past century. There he shared the stage with other greats such as Chucho Valdés and Arturo Sandoval.

Later, after leaving the island in the 1980s, he quickly earned a place among the greats of international jazz, such as Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he founded the United Nations Orchestra in 1988.

He is also a notable composer of jazz and classical music and his creations have been premiered by renowned orchestras worldwide.

What few know is that he has also written two books, the first titled "Mi vida saxual," of an autobiographical nature, and the second is a novel called "Oh!, La Habana," which recounts the rich artistic atmosphere of Cuba in the 1940s-1950s.