Paquito D'Rivera - The Jazz Chamber Trio (2005)

This delightful project features altoist Paquito D'Rivera mostly playing clarinet in a trio with cellist Mark Summer and pianist Alon Yavnai. Although their set includes originals by all three musicians, the music overall is as strongly influenced by Cuban folk music and classical themes as by jazz. D'Rivera clearly enjoys mixing together the different idioms to create new and fresh music that is filled with the spirit and joy of his brand of jazz. The versatility of the three musicians is even more impressive than their inventive repertoire, making this a unique and highly recommended item in Paquito D'Rivera's extensive discography. --Scott Yanow