Born in Mexico and raised in New York, Arturo O’Farrill is a prolific pianist, composer, and passionate promoter of Latin music and its cultural heritage. Arturo is the founder and Artistic Director of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of Afro Latin music through performance, education and preservation.
Throughout his career, he has played with several bands and orchestras all over the world, including his own Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and the Arturo O’Farril Sextet. He has also performed with Ballet Hispánico and the Malpaso Dance Company, and composed pieces for the Evidence Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.
On his Blue Note album Legacies, the composer/arranger/bandleader Arturo O'Farrill puts the emphasis back on his striking pianistic abilities with a 9-song set that juxtaposes stunning solo piano flights. Dynamic trio performances are accompanied by his son, drummer Zack O'Farrill, and bassist Liany Mateo. The repertoire includes pieces by Bud Powell ("Un Poco Loco"), Thelonious Monk ("Well, You Needn't"), his father Chico O'Farrill ("Pure Emotion"), his own "Blue State Blues," and more.
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