Paquito d'Rivera Comes To Copland House at Merestead

Pull up a chair, have a beer (afterwards), and enjoy the sounds of 14-time Grammy Award-winning clarinetist and composer PAQUITO D'RIVERA, as he "travels" SOUTH OF THE BORDER(S) when he visits the majestic Merestead estate in Mount Kisco, NY on Saturdayevening, October 29 at 8PM.

D'Rivera steps into the spotlight as both clarinetist and composer in this program, which traces his extraordinary odyssey from his Cuban roots in Havana - where his feet were planted in both the classical and Afro-Latin jazz worlds - to international celebrity, including multiple performances at the White House. The works on this program - including The Cape Cod Files, Damas de Blanco ("Ladies in White"), and a suite of Latin dances, as well as a few other delectables - give a hint of his eclectic creative passions. These were variously inspired by Benny Goodman's unique lilt and jazz phrasing; the Argentinian Milonga, recreating the nostalgic sound and soul of the Tango; Eubie Blake's legendary blues stylings; the infectious vocabulary of the legendary Cuban classical master Ernesto Lecuona; and the elegant and sultry brilliant rhythms of the "danzon," almost a national dance in Cuba that has spread to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere.

The exhilarating program also features a selection from a revered work that profoundly influenced d'Rivera, the masterful Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano by Johannes Brahms, and the World Premiere of a new work written especially for this concert by another critically acclaimed clarinetist and composer, Derek Bermel, the Music from Copland House ensemble's Founding Clarinetist. Bermel pays tribute to D'Rivera with a work for two clarinets that captures the zest and depth of the Cuban master's vibrant musical spirit. Other Music from Copland House artists include cellist Alexis Pia Gerlach and pianist and Copland House Artistic and Executive Director Michael Boriskin.

The audience can chat with D'Rivera and the other performers at a post-concert, meet-the-artist reception, and also enjoy the art of the brewmaster sampling the creations of some of New York State's most innovative hop and barley artisans. The concert is part of the 2016 Arts & Craft Beer Fest presented by ArtsWestchester and Taste of New York and curated by Half Time Beverage.

Saturday evening, October 29 at 8pm at Merestead, 455 Byram Lake Road, Mt. Kisco, NY. Tickets are $50 ($40 for Friends of Copland House, $10 for students). For ticket and subscription information, call (914) 788-4659, e-mail office@coplandhouse.org, or visit their website:

www.coplandhouse.org