William Manchester

Paquito D'Rivera's second recording as leader of the United Nation Orchestra features a live concert from 1997. By then the ensemble (which was Dizzy Gillespie's last big band) did not display that distinctive a personality and was clearly missing the late trumpeter. However, it still had plenty to offer including such players as trombonists Conrad Herwig and William Cepeda, guitarist Fareed Haque, trumpeter Diego Urcola, and, of course, its leader. Most of the material on the CD is from bandmembers but the three most memorable selections originated elsewhere: Emiliano Salvador's "Puerto Padre," Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia," and Ernesto Lecuona's "Andalucia Medley," which is taken as a clarinet-bass duet.