PAQUITO D' RIVERA - Portraits of Cuba (1996-2005) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Because Paquito D'Rivera is such a compelling improviser, one greets a heavily arranged and orchestrated session like Portraits of Cuba with some apprehension. But as it turns out, such apprehension is unwarranted, for the Cuban saxman/clarinetist still has enough room to solo and say what needs to be said. With this 1996 session, which was arranged and conducted by Carlos Franzetti and finds D'Rivera backed by combinations of up to 14 musicians, D'Rivera envisioned an Afro-Cuban equivalent of Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain -- and, to be sure, there are some parallels. Franzetti's classical-influenced arrangements recall Gil Evans' work with Davis, and D'Rivera paints an orchestral jazz picture of Cuba much as Davis painted an orchestral jazz picture of Spain. The key phrase here is "jazz picture" -- D'Rivera approaches famous Cuban songs like Ignacio Pineiro's "Echale Salsita" and Ernesto Lecuona's "Como Arrullo de Palmas" from an instrumental jazz perspective; this is jazz with both Afro-Cuban and classical elements, but it's jazz first and foremost. Recorded in New York around the time of the infamous Blizzard of 1996 -- which dumped up to three feet of snow on parts of the Northeastern U.S. -- Portraits of Cuba is among D'Rivera's most essential recordings. by Alex Henderson 
Tracklist:
1 La Bella Cubana 5:19
Written-By – Jose White 
2 The Peanut Vendor 4:38
Written-By – M. sunshine, M. Simmons, W. Gilbert
3 Tu 5:34
Written-By – Eduardo Sanchez De Fuentes 
4 Tu Mi Delirio 6:31
Written-By – Cesar Portillo De La Luz
5 No Te Importe Saber 5:41
Written-By – Rene Touzet 
6 Drume Negrita 4:18
Written-By – Ernesto Grenet
7 Portraits Of Cuba 5:04
Written-By – Paquito D'Rivera
8 Excerpt From "Aires Tropicales" 0:48
Written-By – Paquito D'Rivera
9 Mariana 5:30
Written-By – Carlos Franzetti
10 Como Arrullo De Palmas 3:22
Written-By – Ernesto Lecuona
11 Echale Salsita 5:05
Written-By – Ignacio Pineiro 
12 Song To My Song 5:22
Written-By – Paquito D'Rivera
13 Theme From "I Love Lucy" 3:32
Written-By – E. Daniel, H. Adamson
Credits:
Paquito D'Rivera – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone
Carlos Franzetti – Arranged By, Conductor 
Gustavo Bergalli – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Andres Boiarsky – Clarinet, Flute, Sax (Tenor)
Thomas Christensen – Flute, Sax (Tenor)
John Clark – French Horn
Dario Eskenazi – Piano
Lawrence Feldman – Flute, Sax (Alto)
David Finck – Bass
Allison Brewster Franzetti – Piano
Bob Millikan – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Dick Oatts – Flute, Sax (Tenor)
James Pugh – Trombone
Roger Rosenberg – Bassoon, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone)
Pernell Saturnino – Percussion
Lew Soloff – Flugelhorn,  Trumpet
David Earl Taylor – Trombone (Bass)
Diego Urcola – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Mark Walker – Drums