Recorded in Havana at the end of 2014 by Arturo O’Farrill and his Latin Jazz Orchestra. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album and is a re-imagination of his father legendary cuban jazz musician Chico O’Farill’s Afro Cuban Jazz Suite recorded 65 years prior.
Chico formed close relationships with the likes of Count Basie, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie. He witnessed Dizzy work with infamous Cuban percussionist Chano Pozo.
Neither Dizzy nor Chano could communicate with each other, other than through their love and understanding of ‘Afro-Western’ music. Dizzy called the music that they created together Universal music as it was neither Jazz nor Cuban music. Arturo appreciates how important this collaboration was as this ‘Universal music’ exchange overcame the difficulties of a 50-year trade embargo between USA and Cuba.
Arturo has made it his mission to continue the conversation that began between the two musicians.On the original 50’s cross-over suite Charlie Parker is the soloist, a role taken up here by the excellent Indian-American alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa. Expect a wonderful blend of Cuban, Peruvian and African rhythms. With the embargo between the US and Cuba now lifted, the musical conversation between the two countries is bound to continue expanding and evolving.