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Annual Dr. Carlos & Laura Perez-Mesa Memorial Concert Arturo O'Farrill QuintetPresented in association with 
Photo Credit Sophie Le Roux We couldn’t be happier to have pianist of note ARTURO O’FARRILL, a multi-GRAMMY® winner, bandleader, composer and arranger as well as arts educator and administrator to again “host” the 2023/2024 Dr. Carlos & Laura Perez-Mesa Memorial Concert. As luck would have it, his concert appearance is also produced in association with MU College of Arts and Science “Afro-Cuban Legacies Conference,” which takes place April 10-12, 2024. O’Farrill, whose most recent Jazz Series appearance – a solo performance – took place seven years ago, leads a quintet this time. Not only did the son of Chico O’Farrill, the influential Afro-Caribbean pianist, composer and bandleader follow in his father’s footsteps, but he also now shares the family’s musical legacy with his two sons, trumpeter Adam O’Farrill and drummer Zack O’Farrill, the latter who will join his father and make his first Jazz Series appearance. Talk about a good fit, O’Farrill’s most recent release is a trio date that features bassist Liany Mateo who, likewise, appears with O’Farrill here, and son Zack. The recording’s title: Legacies (Blue Note). We probably should file this under “You can’t make this stuff up!” The two O’Farrills – Arturo and Zack – will also serve on a “Afro-Cuban Legacies” conference panel. Additionally, the quintet serves as our the Annual Children’s Concert performers, which brings together the Columbia Public School District’s elementary school students for a participatory event at Hickman High School Auditorium. The “informance” takes place on April 12. |
 Arturo O’Farrill Quintet
Arturo O'Farrill: Piano “Three generations of O'Farrills are represented on this new album, reminding us what tradition is at heart: our ongoing conversation with those who came before us, and those who come after.” - Kevin Whitehead, NPR “Leader of the first family of Afro-Cuban jazz… - New York Times |
