Purdue News

March 20, 1998 Jazz orchestra promotes music as the international language WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Grammy Award-winning jazz ensemble United Nation Orchestra led by Paquito D'Rivera appears at 8 p.m. Friday, April 3, in Loeb Playhouse in Purdue University's Stewart Center. The concert is presented by Purdue Convocations with support from United Technologies and is the last event of the 1997-98 Jazz Set music series. Formed in 1988 by the late Dizzy Gillespie to showcase cultural influences vital to the development of jazz, the United Nation Orchestra's 13 members hail from seven different countries. Gillespie, prompted by the diversity of the group and its music, said, "Talk about music as the international language ... man this is it!" Gillespie and the United Nation Orchestra won a Grammy in 1992 for the recording "Live at the Royal Festival Hall." Cuban-born saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, "one of the woodwind giants of our time" according to JazzTimes, has led the United Nation Orchestra since 1992. Tickets are $21 for the public and $13 for Purdue students at campus box offices. Charge by phone at (765) 494-3933 or 1-800-914-SHOW. CONTACT: Jeff Langford, Convocations publicist, (765) 494-9712; e-mail, jilangford@convos.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page