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May 5, 2026 -- Belongó is a New York City-based non-profit cultural institution founded by pianist/composer and GRAMMY Award winner Arturo O’Farrill in 2007 that is dedicated to performing, teaching, and preserving the music of the Americas rooted in African and Indigenous traditions through jazz. As Belongó begins building Casa Belongó, an unprecedented cultural and education center in East Harlem that recently broke ground, it continues developing its international presence with a global jazz retreat in Hungary from July 12-19, where musicians from all cultures and levels gather to connect, play, and recharge. In addition, O’Farrill will lead a series of educational concert performances for families with his trio in Taipei, Taiwan, August 7-9.
O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO) will also perform locally at Riverbank State Park in Manhattan on July 11, a free concert presented in collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections program with persons that were formerly incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Belongó will also present the 12th annual Pueblo Harlem: Celebrating Latino Culture on June 26, a day-long festival for all ages that brings together community, culture, and live performance at Riverside Church in West Harlem. Featuring performances by Arturo O’Farrill, the Fat Cats and special guests.
Belongó at Babel Camp | Balatonboglar, Hungary | July 12-19
A week-long retreat by the idyllic Lake Balaton where musicians of all cultures and levels meet to connect, play, and recharge, this unique experience is a meeting of rhythms from around the world. From hip hop to Afro Latin to Balkan, this unique program with shared roots in jazz explores the art of improvisation as a musical exchange transcending language. Each day includes workshops, one-on-one coaching with an artist mentor, small group sessions, open mics and community jam sessions. Arturo O’Farrill will be joined by a number of additional teaching artists from the U.S., Hungary, Cuba, and beyond. Interested participants can apply here.
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Arturo O’Farrill Trio in Taipei, Taiwan August 7-9
Arturo O’Farrill’s Trio will perform a series of four family concerts at the National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, August 7-9. O’Farrill’s trio will be joined by a special guest trumpeter from Taipei. The concerts will feature performances as well as discussions about Latin and jazz music, celebrating what happens when cultures come together.
O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Riverbank State Park July 11
Part of Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections with Sing Sing Correctional Facility
This free concert celebrates Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison. Through 15 years of collaboration, creative expression, and human connection, Musical Connections has brought professional musicians together with individuals incarcerated at Sing Sing to create and perform music, resulting in a vibrant creative community and remarkable body of original work that continues to grow. ALJO reflects this same collaborative spirit with its bold fusion of socially conscious artistry, shared music making, jazz improvisation, and wide-ranging Afro Caribbean rhythms.
The performance opens with a special set by The Freedom Trap, a dynamic ensemble of musicians whose artistry was developed through Musical Connections and who carry this work forward today. Also featured are original songs featured in the online Sing Sing Voices video playlists that provide a powerful look into the range, depth, and imagination of the music created through the program.
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra New York City Residencies
ALJO performs at City Winery Manhattan every Sunday through May 31 (City Winery also hosted Belongó’s inaugural gala last fall). And starting June 2, the Orchestra begins an exciting weekly series every Tuesday at 7PM and 9PM at The Pocket, a brand new jazz club opening on West 46th Street built by veterans of Jazz Standard, Crane Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Blue Note.
Casa Belongó
A new state-of-the-art cultural and education hub broke ground in February, Casa Belongó will occupy the first two floors of Timbale Terrace, a 341-unit building of affordable housing in East Harlem. Featuring opening remarks from Mayor Mamdani and the premiere of a new O’Farrill composition penned for the occasion called Mamdani Mambo, the groundbreaking was covered by the New York Times, Gothamist, WNYC, NY1, JazzTimes, 1010Wins, ABC7, Pix11, Hellgate, and more.
In The News
O’Farrill recently appeared on WABC’s weekly Tiempo program to discuss Casa Belongó, Belongó’s ongoing community work including the Fat Cats youth orchestra program, and the two new ALJO residencies. Watch here: https://abc7ny.com/post/tiempo-joe-torres-spotlight-mary-louis-academy-queens-casa-belong-new-cultural-hub-east-harlem/18898903/
Additional programming and events include the final installment of Belongó’s partnership with El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem on May 15 and 16, featuring performances and panels; the Fat Cats 15th anniversary concert series at Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn; and a growing slate of performances by O’Farrill & The ALJO in the New York City area and beyond.
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Upcoming Events:
City Winery Manhattan - Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra - every Sunday through May 31 - 11:30AM except for May 10, 24, 31 at 7PM
May 7 - Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park - NY, NY - Belongó's Senior Social: Live Music, Birthdays and Harlem Spirit
May 8 - University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA - Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble at Penn Live Arts
May 9 - Tilles Center for Performing Arts - Greenvale, NY - Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
May 15, 16 - El Museo Del Barrio - Harlem, NY - Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
May 17 - Shapeshifter Lab - Brooklyn, NY - the Fat Cats 15th Anniversary Afternoon Concert Series
May 29 - South Bronx Cultural Festival - Father Gigante Plaza - Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
June 2 - The Pocket - NY, NY - Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Tuesday Night Residency begins - show times at 7 + 9PM
June 26 - The Riverside Church - NY, NY - 12th Annual Pueblo Harlem: Celebrating Latino Culture - Day-long festival of music, dancing, workshops for families and community - Arturo O’Farrill, the Fat Cats, special guests
July 11 - Riverbank State Park - NY, NY - Carnegie Hall Musical Connections - Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Freedom Trap
About Belongó
Belongó, formerly the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, was founded by Arturo O’Farrill in 2007. The non-profit institution is dedicated to performing, educating about, and preserving the music of all of the Americas, emanating from African and indigenous roots, through the entry point of jazz. The organization produces the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's annual performance season in New York and worldwide. Its educational programs include the Afro Latin Jazz Academy of Music (ALJAM), an in-school residency program serving public schools citywide with instrumental and ensemble instruction; the Fat Cats, a pre-professional youth orchestra that prepares the next generation of musicians; and the Global Rhythms in Our Tribe (G.R.I.O.T.), a music program that connects youth with rhythms and storytelling from global cultures as a way to engage them in anti-violence activities. In addition, it holds a world-class collection of Latin jazz musical scores and recordings.
Belongó embraces its mission with a commitment to social justice, equity, inclusion, and the equality of all cultures worldwide. For additional information, visit belongo.org.
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