Paquito D’Rivera defies categorization. He is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. His numerous recordings include more than 30 solo albums. His contributions to humanity as an award-winning musician and cultural ambassador include major achievements, which have taken him from humble roots in Cuba to reshaping Latin Jazz on the most visible stages of the world’s concert halls, festivals, and venues. Paquito’s expertise transcends musical genres as he is the only artist to ever have won Grammy Awards in both Classical and Latin Jazz categories. His legacy has transformed the field and established his place among the jazz giants of all time. Paquito is a ‘National Medal of Arts’ recipient, the highest honor given to artists by the United States government, among luminaries such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Mikhail Baryshnikov. He is a NEA Jazz Master as well, the highest honor in the United States for jazz musicians, deserved by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald among other jazz legends, and bestowed by the National Endowment for the Arts which affirms: “Paquito has become the consummate multinational ambassador, creating and promoting a cross-culture of music that moves effortlessly among jazz, Latin, and Mozart”.