Grammy Nomination for Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

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The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill has been nominated for a GRAMMY Award for its debut recording Una Noche Inolvidable (An Unforgettable Night) in the Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album Category. Una Noche Inolvidable was recorded live on the stage of the Rose Theater in Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center January 28, 2005 and released on Palmetto Records June 28, 2005. The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Wednesday, February 8, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS. The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra became a resident orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2002 and since has toured nationally and internationally, bringing the rhythm of Latin Jazz all over the United States and as far away as China. Bob Townsend of the Atlanta Journal Constitution says, “Just try staying in your seat at a Latin jazz show. The propulsive rhythms and sexy grooves pull you up and make you dance in the aisles.”

For this recording, musical director Arturo O'Farrill invited two noted vocalists in the Afro-Latin tradition, Herman Olivera and Claudia Acua, to join the band. From Newark, New Jersey, Olivera was part of the band Conjunto Libre and has worked with Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. From Chile, Acua regularly performed in Santiago's jazz clubs honing her individual style before moving to the U.S.

Palmetto Records believes it is important to present both the tradition and future of jazz. They have partnered with Jazz at Lincoln Center to release the music of their active and popular orchestras. Una Noche Inolvidable is the second release in the Jazz at Lincoln Center series. Others recordings in the series are: A Love Supreme, released January 11, 2005, and Don't be afraid...the music of Charles Mingus, released October 18, 2005, both by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra is led by pianist and musical director Arturo O'Farrill and the second resident orchestra of Jazz at Lincoln Center, joining the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Comprised of 18 prominent soloists from the Latin jazz scene, this large ensemble will play classics of the Afro-Latin jazz tradition, commission new works and lead educational events. With the founding of this new ensemble in 2002, Jazz at Lincoln Center helps to continue the long tradition of artistic collaboration between jazz and Latin musicians. The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra performs the very best of the compositions in the canon of the Afro-Latin genre and provides an instrument for a new generation of composers, arrangers and instrumentalists to further progress this craft. In 2005, the band released their debut album, the live recording Una Noche Inolvidable (An Unforgettable Night), on Palmetto Records. It was nominated for a GRAMMY in 2005 for Best Tropical or Latin recording.

The members of the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra are Arturo O'Farrill, Music Director and Piano; Michael Philip Mossman, Trumpet; John Walsh, Trumpet; Jim Seeley, Trumpet; Mike Rodriguez, Trumpet; Luis Bonilla, Trombone; Gary Valente, Trombone; Reynaldo Jorge, Trombone; Douglas Purviance, Bass Trombone; Bobby Porcelli, Alto Saxophone; Erica vonKleist, Alto Saxophone; Pablo Calogero, Baritone Saxophone; Mario Rivera, Tenor Saxophone; Bob Franceschini, Tenor Saxophone; Ruben Rodriguez, Bass; Vince Cherico, Drums; Jimmy Delgado, Bongo, Timbales; and Tony Rosa, Congas. Palmetto Records has been an independent leading voice in music since it was founded in 1990. Through its choice of innovative artists and careful attention to sonic value, it has emerged as a heavyweight world-renowned label, being listed as one of the best jazz labels for four years running in the Down Beat Critics' Poll and being voted Jazz Label of The Year in 2005 by the Jazz Journalists Association and JazzWeek. Its original mission of enabling artists to fulfill their creative visions has remained the label's focus more than 14 years and 120 releases later. According to Palmetto founder and producer, Matt Balitsaris, the label has succeeded so well because it makes music that matters to the artist and to the audience. Palmetto also supports artists who are often overlooked or are considered somewhat “left of center”. This enables the label to help expand the boundaries and even the vocabulary of jazz, and also gives the artists the freedom they need to make great music.

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