Paquito D’Rivera - Portraits of Cuba (One-Step Lp) / Evolution Music

“Portraits Of Cuba” reflects Paquito D'Rivera's musical journey – a unique blend of Cuban music and jazz that affirms both the artist's roots and his love for the American art form. Far beyond the realm of pop music,

the album is this extraordinary jazz musician's tribute to Cuba's enduring legacy. “Portraits Of Cuba” – beautifully orchestrated by arranger and conductor Carlos Franzetti and flawlessly interpreted by D'Rivera and

eighteen experienced musicians – was recorded live and without overdubbing over a two-day period in February 1996 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in New York City.  Only a single high-resolution microphone was

used to capture the beautiful and natural reverberation of the old church. In 1997, D'Rivera won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance with “Portraits Of Cuba.” The German magazine “Audio” wrote about

the album: “When Paquito D'Rivera puts his clarinet, alto saxophone, or soprano saxophone to his lips, he produces exactly those tones that touch the heart without further ado: gentle and strong, clear and powerful, macho

with empathy.” The magazine “Stereo” added: "Despite the bitter cold during the recording, the 18 musicians review 100 years of Cuban sound tradition from a jazz perspective in such a lively and elegant way that you feel like

you're at a hot Caribbean fiesta, not in New York's St. Peter's Church while snow is falling outside. Chesky engineer Bob Katz recorded the complex interplay between soloists and band, as well as between brass and rhythm sections,

in a very airy and lively manner." The AllMusic Guide even goes so far as to place the entire album on a par with Evans' most spectacular and important session, “Sketches Of Spain.”
 
“Portraits Of Cuba” is an incomparable gem in the Chesky Records catalog and Evosound is proud to present the LP reissue of this wonderful album – pressed on 180-gram vinyl (33 RPM) and, for the first time, using the superior

One-Step process, which brilliantly showcases Chesky's famous production and recording techniques!

Title

Side A
 
1.    La Bella Cubana
2.    The Peanut Vendor
3.    Tu
4.    Tu Mi Delirio

Side B

1.    Drume Negrita
2.    Portraits Of Cuba
3.    Excerpt From “Aires Tropicales”
4.    Como Arrullo De Palmas
5.    Echale Salsita
6.    Theme From "I Love Lucy"