Among Paquito D'Rivera's dearest memories of his childhood in Havana, Cuba, were the days when Latin jazz legend Cachao Lopez would stop by the downtown office of his father, classical saxophonist Tito Rivera.

Long, rambling conversations ensued on those tropical afternoons, and the subject was always music. There was a lot to talk about.

Lopez, a bassist, played in the city's fine orchestra under many of the world's great conductors and was a legendary trendsetter in the world of Latin jazz. He is considered the master of the descarga — a Latin jam session — and is credited with inventing the mambo. Cuban music was becoming a global phenomenon during those days in the 1940s and 1950, and Cachao talked about all of it.

D'Rivera, a legend in his own right, wrote "Conversations with Cachao" four years ago for New York's Caramoor Music Festival as a concerto featuring double bass, representing Lopez, and saxophone and clarinet parts representing his father and himself. He will be on hand to perform the sax and clarinet solos when the concerto has its Western United States premiere at the Moab Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 4.

Lopez performed the bass part at the work's premiere, two years before his death in 2008. Bassist Robert Black will play the part at the Moab performance, a chamber reduction version arranged by Evan House.

"I inherited many friends from my father, and one of my favorites was Cachao," D'Rivera said. "He was like a role model for many Cuban musicians of my time. He used to do every type of music and was a complete musician. … He influenced us to learn about different types of music and do it perfectly, like he used to do."

Moab Music Festival music director Michael Barrett, who commissioned "Conversations with Cachao" for the Caramoor Music Festival, noticed several musical surprises when he first heard the piece. He couldn't resist questioning D'Rivera about why he heard elements of Chinese music in one section.

"That's all about Chinatown in Havana," D'Rivera answered. "After everyone finished their concerts, the musicians would gather at 2 or 3 a.m. in Chinatown to have soup and noodles."

Another section in the concerto's first movement reminded Barrett of Russian orchestral music. D'Rivera said it was an homage to Lopez's years as an orchestral bassist.

"The whole first movement is about how wide-ranging Cachao's musical tastes were," Barrett said. "That's why there are so many different musical styles and elements, including an incredibly gorgeous jig melody that I'm crazy for. I think it's a masterpiece, an absolutely brilliant piece of music."

D'Rivera is pleased about returning to the Moab Music Festival, where he has performed several times.

"It's a wonderful place to play music, and I don't complain about the hot weather. I am born on a very hot island. The dryness is hard on reeds, but that's all right. Life is work," he said with a laugh. "You have to do some work."

Other featured performers at the festival include ETHEL, an amplified string quartet, and Synchronicity, a piano/percussion duo. Returning favorites include composer/pianist John Musto and soprano Amy Burton, a married couple; fiddler Paul Woodiel; flutist and bagpipe player Christopher Layer; cellist Tanya Tomkins; and violist Leslie Tomkins, the festival's artistic director.

D'Rivera's appearance is part of the festival's thrust to feature music of American composers who have been part of the Moab Music Festival during its 18-year history, Barrett explained. Some, such as Kenji Bunch and Musto, will be present to perform their music. Others, such as Lowell Liebermann, Lukas Foss, William Bolcom and Lou Harrison, will be represented through performances of their works.

A second emphasis is on music of Schumann and Chopin, as a centennial celebration of their births. Music of Brahms, Schubert and Bach also will be heard. "And Mozart," Barrett added. "You've got to have Mozart."

One of the most unusual offerings is an evening dedicated to the music performed at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello — all of it. Jefferson was an avid music lover who filled his home with the best European music of his time, often performing it himself on violin. Meanwhile, in the estate's slave quarters, a rich menu of African-American music was evolving, as documented in the diaries of Jefferson's brother, Randolph. The two musical flavors eventually met in the American melting pot.

"There in Thomas Jefferson's household were these two radically different styles of music happening before 1800," Barrett said. "We'll enjoy that juxtaposition without commenting on the value of either."

The festival brings a collection of world-class musicians to a series of beautiful venues in the Moab area, many outdoors. Concerts will take place in Moab's recently refurbished Star Hall, a grotto along the Colorado River and two spectacular riverside resorts.

It's the musicians that make the festival, though, according to Barrett.

"I think all of these artists really reflect my taste in music and share my personal spirit of musicmaking in the sense that they are all generous artists," he said. "They like mixing with people and sharing their music. They check their egos in the green room and just come out and play out of the joy in the musicmaking. I love that."

features@sltrib.com —

Music with a view

The annual Moab Music Festival runs Sept. 2-16, bringing classical, jazz and folk music to venues in and around Moab, including the shores of the Colorado River. Directed by New York-based conductor and pianist Michael Barrett, the festival features 23 musicians from New York's scene. This year's focus is American music, especially that written by composers who have been part of the festival during its 18-year history.

Info • For venue directors, pricing and tickets, call 435-259-7003 or visit www.moabmusicfest.org.

Moab Music Festival Schedule

Thursday, Sept. 2, noon • Grotto Concert, a fundraising benefit, accessed by a jet-boat trip on the Colorado River, featuring music of Schubert, Schumann and D'Rivera.

Friday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m. • Opening-night concert at Star Hall featuring music of Bach, Schumann, Lou Harrison and John Musto (who will be present).

Saturday, Sept. 4 • Open Rehearsal Conversation at Star Hall, 11 a.m.; Paquito D'Rivera at Red Cliffs Lodge, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 5 • Music Walk (classical), 9 a.m.; ETHEL string quartet at Red Cliffs Lodge, 6 p.m.

Sept. 6, 2 p.m. • Family Picnic Concert at Old City Park. Free.

Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m. • Ranch Concert of traditional music at a private ranch.

Sept. 9, noon • Grotto Concert (benefit) accessed by jet boat, featuring music of Mozart, Schumann and William Bolcom.

Sept. 10, 6 p.m. • Sorrel River Ranch concert featuring music of Schumann, Kenji Bunch, Lukas Foss.

Sept. 11 • Open Rehearsal Conversation at Star Hall, 11 a.m.; Music of Jefferson's Monticello at Sorrel River Ranch, 6 p.m.

Sept. 12 • Music Walk (traditional), 9 a.m.; American Classics concert at Star Hall featuring music of Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13-16 • Musical Raft Trip (benefit), including noon Grotto Concert featuring music of Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Lowell Liebermann. This four-day, three-night custom Colorado River outing traverses Canyonlands National Park through the Cataract Canyon rapids to Hite Marina on Lake Powell.