Paquito

Some big-band albums are heated and brassy, others cool and understated, while a precious few simply cast a mesmerizing spell. "Live at Jazzfestival Bern," recorded in May 2003 by the unerring Swiss Jazz Orchestra, drops anchor squarely in the last of those realms, thanks in part to the ensemble's perceptive choice of material and even more so to the conclusive brilliance of guest artists Paquito D'Rivera, Claudio Roditi and Michael Zisman…

The "celebration" in question refers to Paquito becoming a U.S. citizen seven years after defecting from Cuba – and without question, he lives it up here by lavishing string arrangements on the majority of the tracks. Again, Paquito chooses to roam freely around the Latin and jazz spectrums, yet there is an appealing, newfound elegance in these tracks, even when the going gets raucous. "Wapango" has a stark, neo-classical string chart by Paquito, and Roger Kellaway contributes the fascinating, dream-like arrangement on "Heart of the Kingdom." Both of these tracks, which feature superb Paquito clarinet work, are along the lines of what Eddie Daniels was recording around this time. Claudio Roditi is back on bebop trumpet and Makoto Ozone, Daniel Freiberg and the always unpredictable Kellaway alternate in the piano chair.

The longevity and the durability of the musical relationship between Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés give a freedom and flexibility to these performances on I Missed You Too! that defies all logic; they certainly go way beyond the kind of politely mannered performances that might ensue when musical friends get together after what seems like an age. In the case of Mr Valdés and Mr D’Rivera it is a relationship that began when the latter was introduced to the former by a revered friend Samuel Téllez.

As closely associated as he still is with Cuba, from which he defected in 1981, Paquito D’Rivera has often chosen to express his affection for the music of Brazil. Song for Maura (named after his late mother) is the latest example, a collaboration with that country’s Trio Corrente: Fabio Torres (piano), Paulo Paulelli (bass) and Edu Ribeiro (drums). On January 27, 2014, Paquito D’Rivera and Trio Corrente’s new album “Song For Maura” won the “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards. Trio Corrente members accepted in person the GRAMMY award on the GRAMMY pre-telecast broadcast through GRAMMY Live.

Not a greatest-hits album (like he was shooting for hits) nor a thoroughgoing anthology of Paquito D'Rivera's Columbia period (only the first five of his seven albums are covered), the word "taste" is an intriguing choice, though at 74 minutes the CD is a bit more than just a taste. But then, since Sony has done a real number on his catalog by not reissuing those first five albums, A Taste is all that CD buyers can sample from Paquito's first American recordings.