Tribute to Paquito D’Rivera

The Orion Ensemble brings back its “Tribute to Paquito D’Rivera,” following its popular reception last spring, for a one-night-only performance Friday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Center, 2936 North Southport Avenue, Chicago. 

Joining Orion musicians Kathryne Pirtle, clarinet; Florentina Ramniceanu, violin; and Judy Stone, cello, are Chicago-based composer and guest jazz pianist Bradley Williams, who composed a work for this tribute; jazz vocalists Morgan Pirtle and Amy Jill; guest drummer Juan Pastor; and guest bassist James Wenzel. 

In this celebration of the Cuban-American jazz legend, Orion performs two of D’Rivera’s works. “Danzón” (2002) is a whimsical, yearning piece D’Rivera arranged for clarinet, cello and piano, a highly expressive chamber gem. “Afro” (2003), arranged for clarinet, cello and piano by Brazilian composer and cellist Gustave Tavares, is a meditative, plaintive and stirring work of intimate beauty, universal in its immediate sense of longing. 

Pirtle, Ramniceanu and Williams offer a virtuosic rendering of the famous “Tico Tico” by Zequinha de Abreu (1880–1935) in 1917. This delightful song was inspired by a Portuguese bird, the Rufous-Collared Sparrow, which constantly returns to the singer’s yard to eat cornmeal. D’Rivera’s arrangement for clarinet, violin and piano captures the dynamic humor of this beloved melody. 

Williams composed a world-premiere in honor of D’Rivera for violin, clarinet, cello and piano especially for Orion, featuring a distinctive infusion of jazz elements into the waltz and tango rhythms. He shared, “To the brand-new ‘Par la Mer’ I've appended the waltz ‘Dionne,’ my tribute to the singer Dionne Warwick, which has a little more history. It's an elusive miniature that haunts me and seems to have a will of its own.” 

Also on the program are two additional Williams works: “Herbie Nichols” for solo piano and “Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue)” for voice, piano, violin and cello.