Arturo O'Farril's Fantasy Island Tracks

As son of the late Cuban composer, arranger, conductor, Chico O’Farril, and growing up among the greats of New York’s Jazz scene, we reckoned ARTURO O’FARRIL pianist, composer, and educator extraordinaire, must have had some pretty special musical memories. And so we asked: If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks of everything you've ever heard, would you choose to accompany you? It's our little way of finding out about the greatest music ever made, as chosen by those who know.
by Amaranta Wright
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Arturo O’Farrill was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City, where his father Chico O’Farril, was one of the founding fathers of Afro-Cuban jazz or "Cubop", composing works for Machito (Afro-Cuban suite with Charlie Parker, 1950),  Benny Goodman's Bebop Orchestra ("Undercurrent Blues"), and arranging for Dizzy Gillespie

Whilst soaking up the influences of Jazz legends around him, Arturo received his formal musical education at the Manhattan School of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. His professional career began with the Carla Bley Band and continued as a solo performer with artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte.

Arturo eventually took over the big band, that his father led in residence at New York's Birdland nightclub. In December 2010 Arturo travelled with the original Chico O’Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra to Cuba, returning his father’s musicians to his homeland.

Arturo now tours regularly with his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and Arturo O’Farrill Sextet, as well as other Orchestras, and will be performing in London as part of the Jazz Cubano Showcase at the Barbican

Question: So, Arturo, If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need, to get you through those times of despair?

1. 'Seven Steps to Heaven' by Miles Davis

"I first heard this track when I was 12.  Prior to that I was playing classical repertoire and listening to pop and rock.  Herbie Hancock's solo changed my life's direction and I became a jazz pianist"

2. 'Vale Todo'  by Los Munequitos de Matanzas

"This was the first Afrofolkloric music I heard.  It is classic Rumba played by the finest rumberos in Cuba.  I particularly love the singing and the entrance of the Tumbadoras on this."

3. 'Afro Cuban Jazz Suite' by Machito and Charlie Parker

"My father wrote and conducted this masterpiece when he was just 26. It is widely recognized as necessary listening in conservatories throughout the world.  It is the first major suite ever written in Afro Cuban jazz and featured Charlie Parker"

4. 'Any Major Dude Will Tell You' by Steely Dan

"Steely Dan is arguably the best pop/rock band in American history.  This particular piece speaks to my need for optimism in a freakishly dark and fascist period in America.  Gotta believe that we're better than this sick president and his disgusting administration."

5. 'Chameleon' by Herbie Hancock 

"I adore the rhodes solo in the middle section and the incredible drumming of Harvey Mason, the tune itself is fairly simple but the playing is exquisite"

6. 'Close to the Edge by Yes

"British progressive rock at it's best. The idea of a concept album kind of began with the Beatles and Brian Wilson but this is among it's best realizations. I wore my copy out."

7. 'Ghosts' by Albert Ayler

"I believe the performance by this brilliant saxophonist has more soul in it than some entire careers.  The history of the African American experience is encoded in this recording."

8. Far East Suite by Duke Ellington

"The suite in it's entirety is brilliant but Isfahan fills me with wonder and awe.  Dukes writing and orchestration is perfection and the performance by the Orchestra and in particular Johnny Hodges is so relaxed and swings so hard that it is the standard for this genre."

Arturo O'Farril will be performing at the Barbican as part of Jazz Cubano on Friday 23rd November. More info and tickets https://serious.org.uk/events/jazz-cubano-showcase

In 2007, he founded the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the performance, education, and preservation of Afro Latin music. http://www.afrolatinjazz.org.

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