Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: Celebrating Carla Bley

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For the March 28 edition of Virtual Birdland, Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra will pay tribute to the groundbreaking composer Carla Bley—and present the virtual world premiere of a new Bley composition that was commissioned specifically for Arturo and ALJO.

O’Farrill: “Carla Bley is a true original. She is as committed to vision and integrity as any jazz voice in the history of this art form. She took a chance on a teenager and gave him wings to fly. I can’t think of a higher honor than to acknowledge publicly what a huge impact she has made on my work and on all of our lives. It’s very, very simple: Carla is one of those heroes that defines the very medium she advances, even as she goes way beyond it.”

Bley: “Once upon a time, a 17-year-old Arturo O’Farrill was the newcomer in my big band. I had hired him because he was cute and funny. But he turned out to be a hell of a piano player too. Last year, when he asked me to write a piece for his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, I immediately jumped at the opportunity; I had kept up with his playing and writing, and I knew that he would present me with great players. I assume that they are all cute and funny too.”

Accompanied by live chat and commentary from Arturo and the ALJO musicians. Additional guests to be announced.