The new
album, O’Farrill says, ”serves as a medium for changing the perception of big
band music and Afro Latin Jazz by incorporating hip-hop, DJ techniques, and
spoken word.” The 75-minute recording ”is a collection of the great new
commissions we’ve been working on from our annual Symphony Space season,” he
explains. Special guests on the recording include Vijay Iyer, DJ Logic, Edmar
Castañeda, Donald Harrison, Pablo Mayor, Miguel Blanco, Antonio Lizana, Jason
Lindner, Christopher “Chilo” Cajigas and others, all of whom infuse the
recording with the music of New York City, Spain, Colombia, Cuba and New
Orleans, all regions that gave birth to the jazz aesthetic.
The
Offense of the Drum examines the role of the drum as a vehicle for resistance
and liberation, with references to the oppressive policies set forth by New
York City police in the ’90s. Regarding the title of the album, Arturo notes,
“The drum is an amazing communication tool. It’s a way to connect diverse
communities, and is really the heartbeat of our cultures. So, the drum can be
seen as offensive to those in power, who try and control our freedom of
expression.” A two-part title suite, “The Offense of the Drum: The Oppressor
& The Liberator,” is the flagship composition on the album inspired by drum
circles in NYC being outlawed, and reflecting the idea that the drum is so
politically charged as a means for change.
O’Farrill’s
latest recording spotlights percussion from almost every corner of the world,
featuring 35 different types of drums: the taiko drum from Japan, djembe from
Africa, barriles and bombas from Puerto Rico, tumbadoras from Cuba, bombos from
Colombia, cajons, maracas, bongos, shekeres, claves, cowbells, cuicas,
tambourines, timbales and turntables. The Offense of the Drum is part of an
ongoing commitment by the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, an eighteen-piece big
band, to expand the very definition of Latin Jazz, with the drum taking center
stage. O’Farrill notes, “Jazz is practiced best in the presence of drums, and
enhanced by the presence of drum work. Jazz has really moved away from this,
but the drum sets the spirit soaring. In fact, with this album we’ve overcome
many constraints of jazz. We are embracing multiple cultures with the use of
the drum, while introducing a contemporary exchange of innovative new music.”
”Trying
to put into words the multitude of sounds on this album is a difficult task,” says
executive producer Kabir Sehgal. “Arturo is many things: maestro, composer,
pianist, bandleader, father, son, husband and friend. Most of all, he displays
a mighty spirit, enshrined with generosity and love. This album is as much a
sacrament of his soul — as it is a meditation on the drumbeats of life.”
The
Offense of the Drum is co-produced by O’Farrill, Todd Barkan, Eric Oberstein
and Kabir Sehgal, and will be nationally released by Motéma Music in May 2014
in connection with the Apollo Theater performance.
The
Apollo Theater Commissions New Work from Arturo O’Farrill:
Harlem’s
legendary Apollo Theater has enlisted O’Farrill to present newly commissioned
work as part of its 80th anniversary program. Coinciding with the 65th
anniversary of his father, Afro Latin music pioneer Chico O’Farrill’s
(1921-2001) historic ”Afro Cuban Jazz Suite” – a centerpiece of the Afro Cuban
Jazz repertoire — Arturo will feature this seminal work along with the world
premiere of his “Afro Latin Jazz Suite” at the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival @
the Apollo Theater on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Just as the original score of
Chico’s piece included the greatest jazz upstarts of the time, including
Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich and Flip Phillips, Arturo’s band will showcase
today’s equivalents such as Guggenheim fellow Rudresh Mahanthappa, NEA Jazz
Master Randy Weston, saxophone legend Billy Harper, master drummer Lewis Nash,
Afro-Peruvian percussion maestro Freddy ”Huevito” Lobatón, and Brazilian
percussionist Café. Also part of the Apollo Theater programming is Randy
Weston’s “African Sunrise Suite,” which was composed by Weston, and arranged by
Melba Liston. The evening serves as the CD release event for Arturo O’Farrill
& the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra’s latest recording, The Offense of the Drum
(Motéma Music: May 2014).
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