Born in Mexico, yet growing up in New York, Arturo O'Farrill has always had a deep seeded connection with Latin music. Educated at the Manhattan School of Music, the Brooklyn College Conservatory as well as the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College, O'Farrill learned the intricacies of many different music styles before striking out to play piano with the Carla Bley Big Band from 1979 to 1984. However, after feeling the pull of his Latin roots, O'Farrill struck out and formed the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra to preserve and invigorate a style of music that is near and dear to the talented piano player's heart.
