Arturo O'Farrill Signs with Blue Note Record Label, Under Universal Music Group, Prepares New Music Release and Shares Aspirations for Future Endeavors
New York's Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center to Open in East Harlem
The Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center (ALMA), a new cultural facility dedicated to celebrating and promoting Afro-Latin music and arts, is set to open in East Harlem, New York. The 16,000 square foot center will be part of a larger mixed-use development project that includes 600 affordable housing units in the area.
Operated by the Afro Latin community, the ALMA Center is poised to serve as a significant cultural hub for the appreciation and continuation of Afro-Latin heritage. It aims to provide a dedicated space for Afro-Latin music and arts, preserving and showcasing cultural expressions important to the Afro-Latin population in New York City.
The center will likely offer programming, performances, education, and engagement opportunities centered on Afro-Latin traditions. By connecting cultural development with affordable housing and community needs, ALMA contributes to the revitalization and enrichment of East Harlem, a historically Afro-Latin neighborhood.
The Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center will be operated by the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance (ALJA), an organisation founded by Arturo O'Farrill, a global jazz studies professor at UCLA and a five-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist.
Meanwhile, O'Farrill is also busy with his own projects. He is working on a world premiere of a work commissioned by the School of the Arts at Columbia University, titled "Mundoagua". Additionally, he is working on an opera called Lucero. His upcoming album, "four Questions", will be released on Blue Note Records.
In a collaboration with Dr. Cornel West, O'Farrill will perform "Four Questions" with his GRAMMY Award-Winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on October 30, 2021. O'Farrill also has two vinyl projects in limited release: "The Centennial Suites" and "Love and Resilience".
At UCLA, the Anti-RacismAction Committee is taking steps to foster a safer, more welcoming environment. The committee plans to hold regular forums and monthly events, invite recognized national leaders to address issues related to institutionalized racism in academia, particularly in higher music education, and continue and expand the Still Waiting Speaker Series. The committee will also issue a public report and recommendations, and work closely with the Dean's Office to implement them.
For more information about the Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center, visit their website. The project's holistic approach to community development through cultural empowerment promises to enrich the lives of East Harlem residents and contribute to the continued growth and diversity of the city's cultural landscape.
- Visitors to the Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center can engage in education and self-development workshops, as the center aims to provide a dedicated space for Afro-Latin music and arts.
- Alongside the ALMA Center, Arturo O'Farrill, its operator, is also involved in various entertainment projects such as an opera titled Lucero and an upcoming album, "four Questions", on Blue Note Records, showcasing his commitment to music outside the center.
