Aires Tropicales

Cuba's musical legacy is one of tremendous variety. The music of the people, namely the son, danzn and habanera, are still popular and played routinely. Jazz was a late addition to the fray, but has remained popular with many Cuban musicians. It was such a blend that fostered the development of the great Cuban woodwind specialist Paquito D'Rivera. Initially a classical music prodigy, D'Rivera developed a love for both the native music of Cuba and that which was brought in from the United States, especially jazz. Since leaving Cuba, he has become one of the most prominent clarinetists and saxophonists in the world. For the recording, D'Rivera brought his Aires Tropicales, which he had originally composed for a wind quintet. His friend and leuthier Luis Rossi had arranged the pieces for clarinet and string quartet. Violist Eduardo Cana added a contrabass part that was recorded here along with a variety of pieces by Cuban composers, ranging from some dating from the early 20th Century to contemporary composers active today.