 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: William
Date: 2005-01-21 15:18
Madison, WI. USA (01/19/05)
Sergio and Odair Assad, guitars, played the Wisconsin Union Theater last evening with Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet, receiving second billing. However, it should have been the other way around. It was a totally Paquito recital of mostly Cuban and Brazillian music with the equally talented Assad brothers "on accompaniment". They did start the second half with a guitar-only duet, but--after calling to off-stage, "Hey Paquito, help!!"--the rest of the evening featured Paquito, and he was vertually unstoppable, given his fast tongue, flawless technique, impeccable rhythmic timing and exhuberant "on stage" personality. To make a long story short, the concert lasted nearly 2 hours and ten minutes--15 min intermission--and was non-stop amazing every time Paquito put his Rossi clarinet in his mouth. While not playing, he was either joking with the Assads or explaining the music to the nearly sold out house. He did have some difficulty during the trios redition of A. Coplands Hoe Down, from "Rodeo", but the rest of his night was simply viruositic. For me, Paquitos best moments were during the H. Villa-Lobos Miudinho, from Bachiana Brazileria No. 4, and a solo clarinet tribute to his friend, Dizzy Gilespie, in an improvised suite of Diz tunes he called, Dizziness. He implored us to listen carefully because, "this is the first time I have played this number.....and I may never play it again".
The audience gave the trio a standing ovation at the end which drew an encore--and then, the concerto was over. It seemed like it had just begun. With the exception of the Copland, everything Paquito played was phrased perfectly and remarkably in tune. And no matter how difficult the flourish of notes he demanded from his Rossi, it always sounded easy to our ears. He tongues so fast and so clean--yikes! The whole evening, he just seemed to be having total fun playing music--and he made us feel the "fun".
After the concert, I met him backstage and mentioned that I was a clarinetist--to which he responded, "Oh, you are handicapped too". Then he told me his reed for the evening was a White Master, German cut, but that his mouthpiece was "traditional" (I did not catch the specific make/model). Off stage, he had a smile for everyone, allowed some photos and was as gracious and outgoing as he seemed while on stage. Paquito D'Rivera, a true role model for all musicians--and a virtosic master of the clarinet.
(BTW, the Assad brothers were equally talented and if you ever get a chance to hear them, you will not be disappointed)
And tonight, I get to hear David Shifin play the Mozart on his basset clarinet, accompanied by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (if the snow, tonight, doesn't get too deep--we are expecting 7 to 10 inches)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JHS
Date: 2005-01-21 15:26
Excellent review! What would you recommend as to the cd that best displays his clarinet playing?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dano
Date: 2005-01-21 15:45
Thanks for such a great review of a concert. It made me feel like I was there for all but the actual music. I had heard that PD' was a wonderful preformer and also a nice guy all around. Nice to hear it verified. Too bad I was in San Francisco, Ca. and not in your part of the woods. I would of loved to see him on something other than a CD cover. Any special CDs that would be recomended for Paquito D'Rivera clarinet music? I just bought "Yo-Yo Ma Obrigado Brazil-Live in concert" where the Assad bros. and Paquito D'Rivera are featured and was completely impressed by their live preformance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-21 15:48
Awesome! Congrats on hearing a great concert!
I only have his CD called "The Clarinetist - Vol I". But I love it. listen to it VERY often. As I recall, Synonymous Botch recommends the CD "Cachao" (the first) which made SB a 'believer' (his/her own words).
Try one of those two. I personally vouch for the first.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2005-01-21 15:56
he is also a killer sax player- check out the "carribean jazz project" he plays amazing sax/clar on those albums
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-01-21 17:03
When searching for Paquito recordings, you should remember that he's categorized primarily as a jazz saxophonist --- although IMHO his clarinet playing is better than his sax work. He is truly fabulous.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jmsa
Date: 2005-01-21 17:07
Next week I am going to hear Ricardo Morales do the Mozart with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Should be amazing.
jmsa
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-01-21 17:59
Hi,
You also need to check out the great Cuban band Irakere which Pacquito was a founding member of in the late 1970s before his defection from Cuba. If you want to hear some great alto sax playing as well as brass to end all brass (Chucho Valdez and Arturo Sandoval), listen to the album entitled The Best of Irakere. This is one of my favorite jazz albums but you must like your salsa very hot!!!
HRL
PS The Mozart Adagio (yes, that's correct) is not the best treatment I've ever heard.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-21 18:00
I've got to say, I've only seen Paquito live once. And it was awesome. This man DOES (as William pointed out in the original post) really have not only awesome ability, but such charisma and a commanding presence on the stage. A true "Alpha Male" if there ever was one (and even though he plays the clarinet . . . ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif) !!!)
Ha ha!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2005-01-22 05:02
I'll actually be playing a song from his "The Clarinetist" CD this year for solo & ensemble, a switch from my original intention of doing Weber Concertino. I'll be playing at least one movement from Aconcagua/Concerto for Bandoneon (probably the first, if I limit myself to one), and will do all three if there are no rules on time a piece can last. I thought it would be pretty difficult to get music for it, but I started by e-mailing Paquito, who gave me Pablo Zinger's e-mail. Both have been very friendly and helpful, and the trio arrangement will cost me $100 which I'm sending off tomorrow. "The Paq-Man" is also a very cool nickname. :p
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DougR
Date: 2005-01-22 19:36
Paquito has written one woodwind quintet that I know of, and several pieces for clarinet, one of which is a duet arrangement (for clarinet) of an old Latin American song; the arrangement's kind of short, not at all difficult, and musically tasty.
Not being home where my music is, I can't tell you the publisher, but a little Googling should reveal all. He might even have added to his ouevre since the last time I looked, which was a few years ago.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
