October 28, 2021 marks the centennial of Arturo Chico O'Farrill. This vinyl release of two original compositions is named The Centennial Suites to honor this moment in time. I have been indelibly shaped by Chico O'Farrill. The first movement of the Afro Latin Jazz Suite, Mother Africa, is based on South Asian Harmonium textures, Indigenous African Rhythms, a cluster based harmonic improvisational setting and fragments of Chico's motifs in The Afro Cuban Jazz Suite. The second movement is based on Peruvian rhythms and is called All of the Americas. The connecting Adagio is based on what I consider Chico's most gorgeous writing, his ballads and boleros and the final movement What Now is based directly on the angularity of Rudresh's motivic improvisational approach. What I hope I've achieved is an acknowledgement of his integrity, curiosity and willingness to risk it all. Four Questions is the marriage of creative practice and personal conviction. In this piece I was inspired by truth telling. Dr. Cornel West is a truth teller. He makes many in and out of his community nervous. Whether or not you agree with his views he is a modern-day prophet. In this case I was transformed by a speech Dr. West made in 2004 in Seattle based on his book, Black Prophetic Fire. In the speech he expounds on four questions posed by W.E. B. DuBoise in his book, Souls of Black Folk. These two suites were both awarded critical success having earned Grammy awards. This is sweet vindication for me as I consider all the merit I have as an acknowledgement of a principle I learned from Maestro Arturo 'Chico' O'Farrill. Do what you do at the highest technical level that you can, do this with artistic integrity, marry it to your convictions and worry not about what reception you'll receive. These suites are a reflection of those values instilled in me by a humble Irish German Cuban visionary who lived what he believed. Arturo O'Farrill
Release date:
June 3, 2022
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Fuerza Regida 111XPANTIA
Sony U.s. Latin
August 22, 2025 -
Styx Circling From Above
Ume
July 18, 2025 -
Slow Crush Thirst
Pure Noise Records
August 29, 2025 -
Yoshika Colwell On the Wing
Blue Flowers
July 25, 2025 -
Rise Against Ricochet
Loma Vista Recordings
August 15, 2025 -
Burning Witches Inquisition
Napalm Records
August 22, 2025 -
Backstreet Boys Millennium 2.0 [2xLP]
Legacy Recordings
July 11, 2025 -
Max Richter SLEEP CIRCLE [3xLP]
Deutsche Grammophon
September 5, 2025 -
Kenny Burrell Kenny Burrell (Original Jazz Classics Series)
Craft Recordings
August 22, 2025 -
Laura Jane Grace Adventure Club (Pink)
Polyvinyl Records
July 18, 2025 -
Pretty Bitter Pleaser (Blueberry Lemonade Splatter)
Tiny Engines
August 1, 2025 -
Before The Dawn Cold Flare Eternal (Blue Splatter)
Reaper Entertainment
September 5, 2025 -
Gordi Like Plasticine (Translucent Sea Blue)
Mushroom Music
August 8, 2025 -
Arcadea The Exodus of Gravity [2xLP]
Relapse
August 22, 2025