Orion's TRIBUTE TO PAQUITO D'RIVERA to Return in November

The Orion Ensemble will bring 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 for Thought and Culture, 2936 North Southport Avenue, Chicago. This concert is the second in the Athenaeum Center's Strictly Chicago series, which features different Chicago artists each month.

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” (1917) by Zequinha de Abreu (1880–1935). 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.

Orion's regular season continues with “To Hope!” in November, “To Life!” in March and “To Joy!” in April and May. More information is available at orionensemble.org.

Performance Details

The Orion Ensemble performs “Tribute to Paquito D'Rivera”

Friday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. at

the Athenaeum Center, 2936 North Southport Avenue, Chicago.

Tickets are $30, available at

athenaeumcenter.org/events/2024/paquito-d-rivera-tribute/.

All programming is subject to change; for information visit orionensemble.org.

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