Paquito D'Rivera expresses his disappointment with the people and musicians in Cuba

The renowned Cuban saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera reiterated his disillusionment with the reality of his homeland and, in particular, with many of its musicians.

In response to an extensive critical post on Facebook about the morals and social values on the island —which compares the social response to the activism of, for example, an artist like Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara; and on the other hand, to the permanent show maintained by Sandro Castro—, the multiple Grammy Award winner remarked:

"With very few exceptions, my disappointment with that town in general is immeasurable. Especially with the musical class," said Rivera.

The musician's comment was made under a post by the filmmaker Carlos Díaz Lechuga that depicts what he believes is a society marked by selfishness, corruption, and indifference towards the country's deterioration, where "everything bad is allowed" and "those who speak out become the enemy."

It is not the first time that D’Rivera has expressed his sadness about the situation in Cuba. In 2024, in statements to CiberCuba, he stated that “Cuba has become a tremendously sad thing.”

The artist has maintained acritical stance towards the Cuban regime for decades, denouncing both political repression and the constraints on artistic freedom that led him into exile in 1980.

Francisco de Jesús "Paquito" D'Rivera was born on June 4, 1948, in Havana, into a family deeply connected to music.

Son of the saxophonist and director of the Tito D’Rivera orchestra, he began performing in public at the age of six and studied at the Conservatory of Music in the Cuban capital.

He was a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna and the legendary group Irakere, with which he 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 developed a prolific career in jazz and classical music.

Last year he also spoke about political prisoners in Cuba. "It is a shame that Maikel Osorbo is imprisoned for singing. Ten years in prison for shouting 'Freedom', for shouting 'Food'. It is very difficult to return to a place like that," he emphasized.