Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch the Paquito D’Rivera performance on-demand: sfjazz.org/athome/on-demand/paquitodrivera
Love these videos? Support by becoming an SFJAZZ Member: sfjazz.org/join
In My Mind explores the creative process of jazz’s most accomplished improvising musicians, using their words and artistry to illuminate the methods behind their spontaneous inventions.
Paquito D’Rivera
Enter the mind of woodwind genius, Latin Jazz icon, and 2005 NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera. Over an improvisation that incorporates elements from jazz classics “A Night in Tunisia” “Salt Peanuts,” and “Manteca,” among others, D’Rivera shares his philosophy of improvisation, his method for improvement as a soloist, and where he finds inspiration.
An artist deeply versed in both the classical and jazz traditions, the five-time GRAMMY winner and 11-time Latin GRAMMY winner began his musical life prodigiously, performing with Havana’s National Theater Orchestra at age 10 and appearing as featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony at 17.
He helped build the Cuban jazz movement of the 1960s and 70s as a founding member of Orquesta Cubana Música Moderna and later co-founded the legendary ensemble Irakere in 1973 with pianist Chucho Valdés and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, a band that forged an explosive mix of jazz, rock, and traditional Cuban rhythms that changed the face of Latin music.
D’Rivera has released over 30 albums as a leader with his big band, quintet, and chamber jazz ensemble, and as a classical clarinetist, has performed and recorded with major symphony orchestras around the world. He was selected by jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie to be a fouunding member of his United Nation Orchestra in 1988 and is a Guggenheim Fellow, National Medal of Arts honoree, and recipient of the 2007 Kennedy Center Living Jazz Legend Award.
D’Rivera’s latest album is his 2022 Sunnyside Records release I Missed You Too!, which reunites him with former Irakere bandmate Chucho Valdés.
Learn more at SFJAZZ.org
Subscribe to SFJAZZ's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/sfjazz
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/SFJAZZ
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SFJAZZ
***SFJAZZ is a non-profit organization that presents year round jazz concerts, festivals and educational programs at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, CA.
Watch the Paquito D’Rivera performance on-demand: sfjazz.org/athome/on-demand/paquitodrivera
Love these videos? Support by becoming an SFJAZZ Member: sfjazz.org/join
In My Mind explores the creative process of jazz’s most accomplished improvising musicians, using their words and artistry to illuminate the methods behind their spontaneous inventions.
Paquito D’Rivera
Enter the mind of woodwind genius, Latin Jazz icon, and 2005 NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera. Over an improvisation that incorporates elements from jazz classics “A Night in Tunisia” “Salt Peanuts,” and “Manteca,” among others, D’Rivera shares his philosophy of improvisation, his method for improvement as a soloist, and where he finds inspiration.
An artist deeply versed in both the classical and jazz traditions, the five-time GRAMMY winner and 11-time Latin GRAMMY winner began his musical life prodigiously, performing with Havana’s National Theater Orchestra at age 10 and appearing as featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony at 17.
He helped build the Cuban jazz movement of the 1960s and 70s as a founding member of Orquesta Cubana Música Moderna and later co-founded the legendary ensemble Irakere in 1973 with pianist Chucho Valdés and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, a band that forged an explosive mix of jazz, rock, and traditional Cuban rhythms that changed the face of Latin music.
D’Rivera has released over 30 albums as a leader with his big band, quintet, and chamber jazz ensemble, and as a classical clarinetist, has performed and recorded with major symphony orchestras around the world. He was selected by jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie to be a fouunding member of his United Nation Orchestra in 1988 and is a Guggenheim Fellow, National Medal of Arts honoree, and recipient of the 2007 Kennedy Center Living Jazz Legend Award.
D’Rivera’s latest album is his 2022 Sunnyside Records release I Missed You Too!, which reunites him with former Irakere bandmate Chucho Valdés.
Learn more at SFJAZZ.org
Subscribe to SFJAZZ's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/sfjazz
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/SFJAZZ
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SFJAZZ
***SFJAZZ is a non-profit organization that presents year round jazz concerts, festivals and educational programs at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, CA.
