Arturo O'Farrill Valero, who goes by Arturo O'Farrill, is a Mexican Latin jazz pianist who followed his trumpeter father Chico O'Farrill as a composer, arranger and bandleader. He grew up in New York City and learned from many artists who played with his father such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College and the Aaron Copland School of Music. He performed with many jazz stars and became music director for Harry Belafonte. He had a stint with Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center and formed a band called the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
He released 'Blood Lines', his debut album as leader, in 1999 and followed with 'A Night in Tunisia' (2000), 'Cumana' (2004) and 'Live in Brooklyn' (2005). He was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album for 'Una Noche Inolvidable' (2005) and for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for '40 Acres and a Burro' (2011) and 'Cuba: The Conversation Continues' (2015). He won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for 'Song for Chico' (2008) and 'The Offense of the Drum' (2014) and Best Instrumental Composition for 'The Afro Latin Jazz Suite' (2015). His 2020 schedule was to include appearances at venues in Virginia Beach, New York, San Diego and Princeton.
