ARTURO O'FARRILL — 40 Acres And A Burro (review)

ARTURO O'FARRILL — 40 Acres And A Burro album cover

Album · 2011 · Afro-Cuban Jazz

4/5 · 2011-08-16
Matt

Fairly recent release from Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra which Arturo got underway back in 2002, this being their third album, "40 Acres and a Burro". Arturo is the son of Chico O'Farrill the famous Cuban Jazz composer, arranger, band leader as well trumpet player and Arturo who is a pianist himself has pretty much taken the reins with his fathers music and applied his own touch as he did take over his fathers band after his death in 2001. Big Band is what the sound on this album contains mixed with a wonderful, Afro Cuban and Latin Jazz take on a few well known compositions plus Arturo adds three of his own splendid compositions. Nineteen band members in the Orchestra with eleven guests as well included in the album. Bobby Porcelli is playing lead alto saxophone, Paquito D'Rivera is on clarinet and appears on two tracks, Heather Martin Bixler makes an appearance on violin and having such a large band Gabriel Alegria was conducting as well. The best way to state Arturo O'Farrill's take with his music is to use his own words from the album's notes being (quote: "This recording is a testament to our musical philosophy. We believe jazz and Latin are not separate, but rather an inextricable part of each other. Latin is not three concerts out of a season, or a chapter in the book. The same elements that define jazz are all found in our music") and I have to agree as there is plenty of wonderful Jazz contained with the majority underpinned by Afro Cuban rythmns throughout every composition included in the album. One other quick note is Arturo O'Farrill is a wonderful ambassador for his music with much being non profit and he even gets down to the public high schools to spread his wonderful talent to all.

The first up is "Rumba Urbana" written by Oscar Hernandez being the pianist from Ruben Blades band containing some great swing and one terrific solo from Bobby Porcelli on alto with the addition of trombone, trumpet and piano from Arturo this would be one of the more up-tempo numbers on the album. "A Wise Latina" written by Arturo is for the confirmation of the first Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court Judge, Sonia Sotomayor and quite a loopy intro is provided between by the bands brass. "El Sur is by Gabriel Alegria the conductor but he usually fronts his own band the Afro Peruvian Sextet with naturally a Peruvian approch to the rythmn and style with the traditional percussion of cajon, cajita and quijada by Freddy "Huevito" Lobaton added who is a founding member with Gabriel in the Sextet. Lovely number that just seems to have a beautiful laid back arrangement and some wonderful solos but you have to go for the cajon from Freddy as one does not hear it to often with its wonderful light hand drum percussion sound. The next track would be one of the last you would expect to hear on a Latin album being "She Moved Through The Fair" the traditional Irish song and this is where you hear Heather Bixler with some beautiful violin over this old folk tune which does get a slight build up throughout but stays true to the song. Throughout there is always a mix with two Brazilian compostions added being Hermeto Pascoal's, "Bebe" and the other "Um a Zero" by Pixinguinha both played beautifully. "Bebe" is where Paquito D'Rivera makes his second appearance and the composition being one from Hermeto moves along superbly and the clarinet is everywhere from Paquita with the band almost having a call and response take to the the structure with the clarinet. The next one is given great treatment and I myself have never tired of hearing Dizzy's "A Night In Tunisia" with John Walsh on trumpet putting that theme down almost as good as Diz but I may be a little biased with that comment but it a wonderful arranged version with plenty of the neccesary swing and bounce that the tune contains. The title is last being "40 Acres and A Burro" which is in four parts composed by Arturo and the title concerns the stereotypes that certain cultures gain with this one squarely at his own Latin origins.Naturally the burro comes first but the take with the Mariachi does really put the feel down with those dragging trumpets of pure Mexico albeit with a Jazz touch. One could almost claim a little Avante in the touch and the only vocal's used in the album are present but they are only a coro of "La injustica sa acabo'" meaning the injustice is over but Arturo states himself that he doubts this has or will occur but one thing the tune finishes with a great drive and rthymn with Arturo giving a little beauty on piano for a solo.

Great album and not for just Latinos either, there is plenty of great Jazz contained within and the added bonus of a Latin and Afro Cuban influence only makes things better. If you are after some hard hitting Salsa Dura this does not have it but more leaning towards a slight Bop approach at times esp. during the occasional solo which gives the album a great diverse texture as well as the addition of all manners of music styles chosen for the tracks. Playing for the third time in a row as I write which is not an issue for me as there is something new with each listen. Great Jazz.