[Paquito D’Rivera onstage]

Paquito D’Rivera was named an NEA Jazz Masters in 2005, and in 2007 he was given the Living Legend Award. A Cuban-born child prodigy, D’Rivera played clarinet and saxophone in the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra while serving as a founding member of Orquesta Cuba de Musica Moderna and co-director and founder of the award-winning Cuban jazz band Irakere.

D’Rivera has released over thirty solo jazz and Latin music recordings, and has won eight Grammy Awards. He will be at Jazz Port Townsend in 2008.