Mundoagua, the new album from Arturo O’Farrill (& The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra) is an important recording. It’s ambitious. It’s precisely carried out. And, considering the subtitle (Celebrating Carla Bley), it’s a well-deserved and worthy tribute. The album is set to be released 7 February 2025 on the Zoho label..

The album is personal for Mr. O’Farrill. It is a tribute to the composer and mentor who selected the pianist, composer, and bandleader to perform as part of her big band from 1979-1983. Bley’s understanding of the power of music is passed along, through O’Farrill’s sublime attention. Although she has passed, her artistic inquiry goes on.

The album includes two O’Farrill original compositions: Mundoagua (pronounced moon-dwa-gua), commissioned by the Columbia School of Music to commemorate the Year of Water, and Día de Los Muertos, which was inspired by a book on the Aztec people.

Call it jazz, call it Afro Latin, or call it contemporary soundscape. It is gorgeous, plain and simple, and elaborate and complex. It, being the essence of the spirit of music is a multi-layered event. These fragments just might save the world.

Musicians:

Arturo O’Farrill (piano, conductor, composer)

The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra:

Reeds
Ivan Renta
Adison Evans
Jasper Dutz
Roman Filiu
Larry Bustamante

Trumpets
Adam O’Farrill
Seneca Black
Bryan Davis
Rachel Therrien

Trombones
Rafi Malkiel
Remee Ashley
Abdulrahman Amer
Earl McIntyre

Rhythm
Andrew Andron – piano
Ricardo Rodriguez – bass
Vince Cherico – drums
Carlos Maldonado – percussion
Keisel Jimenez – percussion

Vibraphone
Patricia Brennan

Guitar
Sergio Ramirez