Biography

Mexican American composer, pianist, and bandleader Arturo O'Farrill stands as a towering figure in contemporary music, renowned for his genre-defying virtuosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to social justice through music. O’Farrill bridges the gap between traditional Latin rhythms, modern jazz, and contemporary composition, continually pushing the boundaries of the art form while maintaining a profound connection to his roots. Beyond performing worldwide, O'Farrill is a passionate educator and advocate for social and political justice, using his platform to champion diversity and unity. As founder and artistic director of both the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO) and Belongó (formerly known as the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance), O'Farrill plays a pivotal role in nurturing cultural dialogue through the transformative power of music.

O’Farrill is a 6-time GRAMMY winner, 2-time Latin GRAMMY winner, and has earned 17 nominations. Hailed by DownBeat as "one of our greatest living pianists,” he has released nearly 25 albums as a solo artist, collaborator, and with ALJO. O'Farrill’s compositions have been performed by Dr. Cornel West, pianist Lara Downes, and the San Francisco Ballet, and he has received commissions from Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Philadelphia Music Project, The Apollo Theater, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Young People's Chorus of New York, and the New York State Council on the Arts, among others.

Driven by a desire to blend the rich traditions of Afro Latin music with the expansive possibilities of modern jazz, O'Farrill founded ALJO in 2002. Since its founding, ALJO has redefined the boundaries of Latin jazz while continuing to explore themes of cultural identity. The orchestra's performances at internationally renowned venues such as NYU Abu Dhabi, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center, as well as its collaborations with prominent artists and ensembles, have solidified its reputation as an organization that transcends both genre and classification. O’Farrill and ALJO’s weekly residency at Birdland in New York City began in 2013, taking over for Chico O’Farrill’s Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra. O’Farrill has been performing weekly at Birdland for nearly 30 years. In recent years, O'Farrill and ALJO have also built creative alliances with distinguished choreographers and dance companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico, Ronald K. Brown, and Malpaso Dance Company. In 2024, O'Farrill scored Arielle Smith’s Carmen, which was given its world premiere by the San Francisco Ballet.

O'Farrill's compositions reflect his deep engagement with both his heritage and contemporary issues. He worked alongside esteemed composer Tania León on Tabla Raza (2006), a Hispanic suite debuted at Latin Fiesta's Second Annual Hispanic Music Festival. As Artist In Residence at WNYC’s The Greene Space, O'Farrill curated “Radical Acts and Musical Deviancy," a concert series that showcased original works and a commissioned world premiere alongside pieces that explore the shared musical heritages of Afro Cuban music and music from the Gulf, Middle East, and North Africa. O'Farrill and ALJO gave the world premiere of Four Questions (2021), written in tribute to Dr. Cornel West, who joined the orchestra for the performance. Other highlights include Fandango at the Wall in New York with The Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective, Song for Chico, Final Night at Birdland, The Offense of the Drum, Three Revolutions, and more.

O’Farrill released two albums in 2025, both of which earned nominations in the GRAMMY Best Latin Jazz category. Mundoagua: Celebrating Carla Bley earned wide praise, with The Wall Street Journal calling the title track "a masterwork" and NPR Alt.Latino claiming that "O'Farrill and [the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra] can do no wrong." The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico (Live at Town Hall) captures a celebration of the 75th anniversary of a watershed musical moment: when Dizzy Gillespie met Chano Pozo. Their famous 1947 Carnegie Hall performance birthed Latin jazz. O'Farrill, Belongo and Town Hall presented this concert in 2023, featuring Pedrito Martinez, Dayme Arocena, Donald Harrison, and Melvis Santa. The program features O'Farrill's father Chico's orchestration of the “Manteca Suite.”

In 2007, O'Farrill founded the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, now known as Belongó.  A non-profit institution, it’s dedicated to performing, educating about, and preserving the music of all of the Americas, emanating from African and indigenous roots, through the entry point of jazz. Belongó produces The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's annual performance season in New York and manages the Orchestra's weekly engagement at the famed jazz club Birdland, as well as performances worldwide. Its educational programs include the Afro Latin Jazz Academy of Music (ALJAM), an in-school residency program serving public schools in New York City with instrumental and ensemble instruction; the Fat Cats, a pre-professional youth orchestra that prepares the next generation of musicians; and the Global Rhythms in Our Tribe (G.R.I.O.T.), a music program that connects youth with rhythms and storytelling from global cultures as a way to engage them in anti-violence activities. In addition, the organization holds a world-class collection of Latin jazz musical scores and recordings. Through Belongó's initiatives, O'Farrill continues to promote inclusivity while addressing issues such as immigration reform, racial inequality, and the rights of marginalized communities, particularly within Latin communities. Looking ahead, Belongó will serve as the cultural partner for Timbale Terrace, a 340-unit affordable housing project in East Harlem. Two floors of the building will house Casa Belongó—a permanent cultural hub for music education, performance, and community engagement set to break ground in 2026.  

O'Farrill has been appointed to a number of key positions and residencies. In 2008 he took up residency as an assistant professor at State University of New York at Purchase. In 2014, he was named Director of Jazz Ensembles at Brooklyn College's Conservatory of Music, where he developed a unique curriculum exploring experimental genres influenced by cultures from around the world. In 2019, he was appointed at the UCLA Herb Albert School of Music, where he served as Distinguished Professor of Global Jazz Studies and Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Most recently, he was named the Bill Evans Fellow at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.  

Born in Mexico City and raised in New York City, O'Farrill's musical journey is deeply rooted in a legacy of innovation and cultural fusion. His father, Chico O'Farrill, was an influential composer, arranger, and conductor who played a crucial role in integrating Afro Cuban rhythms into jazz during the 1940s and 1950s. O'Farrill began his music journey at the Manhattan School of Music Prep Division and received his Master’s degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where he focused on jazz theory and composition. In the 1980s, he joined the Carla Bley Big Band, before going on to collaborate with Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Lester Bowie, Steve Turre, Tito Puente, Wynton Marsalis, and more. He has also appeared as a sideman on various recordings with his mentor Bley, Papo Vazquez, and his father, among others. In 1995, he was named pianist and music director of the Chico O'Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble he would go on to lead following his father's death in 2001. O'Farrill is based in New York City where he lives with his wife, classical pianist Alison Deane. Their sons, Zack and Adam, are also musicians and frequent collaborators.

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