The acclaimed Cuban saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera has once again expressed his profound disappointment with the current state of his homeland, focusing particularly on many of its musicians. Responding to a detailed Facebook post critiquing the moral and social values on the island—highlighting the contrasting social responses to activism by artists like Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara versus the ongoing spectacle of Sandro Castro—D’Rivera, a multiple Grammy award winner, remarked:
"With very few exceptions, my disappointment with the Cuban people as a whole is immeasurable. Especially with the musical community," D'Rivera stated. His comments were made in response to a post by Díaz Lechuga, portraying what he perceives as a society riddled with selfishness, corruption, and apathy towards the nation's decline, where “everything bad is permitted” and “the whistleblower becomes the enemy.”
This is not the first time D’Rivera has voiced his sorrow over the Cuban situation. In 2024, during an interview with CiberCuba, he declared, “Cuba has become something incredibly sad.” The artist has long maintained a critical stance against the Cuban regime, condemning both the political repression and the restrictions on artistic freedom that drove him into exile in 1980.
Francisco de Jesús “Paquito” D’Rivera was born on June 4, 1948, in Havana, into a family deeply entrenched in music. The son of saxophonist and orchestra conductor Tito D’Rivera, he began performing publicly at the age of six and studied at Havana’s Conservatory of Music. He was a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna and the legendary group Irakere, which revolutionized Latin music by blending jazz, rock, and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
In 1980, he defected during a tour in Spain and settled in New York, where he has enjoyed a prolific career in both jazz and classical music. Last year, he also spoke out about political prisoners in Cuba. "It is a disgrace that Maikel Osorbo is imprisoned for singing. Ten years in prison for shouting 'Freedom,' for shouting 'Food.' It is very challenging to return to such a place," he emphasized.
Insights on Paquito D’Rivera's Views on Cuba
Why is Paquito D’Rivera disappointed with Cuban musicians?
Paquito D’Rivera is disillusioned with Cuban musicians because he perceives a general lack of moral and social values, highlighting selfishness and corruption within the community.
What actions led to Paquito D’Rivera's exile from Cuba?
Paquito D’Rivera went into exile due to the political repression and limitations on artistic freedom imposed by the Cuban regime, which he has consistently criticized.
What was D’Rivera's role in the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna?
D’Rivera was a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna and contributed to its groundbreaking fusion of jazz, rock, and Afro-Cuban rhythms.