Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (Courtesy photo)
Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (Courtesy photo)

Grammy-winning jazz ensemble Arturo Oโ€™Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra packed the house Friday at the Strathmore in Montgomery Countyโ€™s, where it infused big-band jazz with smooth rhythm and blues.

Featuring 18 of some of the worldโ€™s most accomplished musicians alongside lead pianist, composer, and director Arturo Oโ€™Farrill, the show featured the big sounds of Latin rhythm infused with traditional African chords

The show also featured a special spoken-word segment by philosopher, political activist and social critic Cornel West, who made a conscience call for morality.

โ€œWhat does honesty do in the face of deception? What does it mean to be an honest human being?โ€ West said whiled accompanied by the playing band. โ€œIn a world that has been domesticated in lies, lies, lies, in which criminality has affected so many lives, who try to hide and conceal the crimes, where they donโ€™t want to be morally consistent or spiritually consistent โ€” so that a baby born in Mexico has the same value as a baby born in Maryland, so that a baby born in Ethiopia has the same value as a baby born in Guatemala, so that a Jewish baby born in Tel Aviv has the same value as a baby born in Palestine. Do we have what it takes to be consistent, to embrace each other? Thatโ€™s what this music is about. Itโ€™s not mere entertainment.โ€

Oโ€™Farrill also made sure to dedicate a special song to Cuba in the wake of potentially devastating political relations between the small country and the United States under President Donald Trump. He made mention of the bandโ€™s 2015 album โ€œCuba: The Conversation Continues,โ€ released when the two countries first began reestablishing diplomatic ties.

โ€œWe love Cuba,โ€ Oโ€™Farrill said. โ€œWeโ€™ve come such a long way and now that tremendous progress is being threatened.โ€

As fans gave a standing ovation at the performanceโ€™s end, audience member Juliet Mcgaul gushed at the opportunity to witness the performance.

โ€œWhat a great show,โ€ Mcgaul said. โ€œI loved every minute of it. It was so entertaining and also sent out a really good message.โ€

Lauren Poteat is a versatile writer with a strong background in communications and media experience with an additional background in education and development.

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