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April 1, 2026 -- A tremendous 2026 continues for Belongó—the New York City-based non-profit cultural institution founded by pianist/composer and GRAMMY-winner Arturo O’Farrill in 2007 and dedicated to performing, teaching, and preserving the music of the Americas rooted in African and Indigenous traditions through jazz. In February, the groundbreaking of Casa Belongó—an unprecedented state-of-the-art performance space, music education and cultural hub that will occupy the first two floors of Timbale Terrace, a 341-unit building of affordable housing in East Harlem—made national and local news. Featuring opening remarks from Mayor Mamdani and the premiere of a new O’Farrill composition penned for the groundbreaking ceremony called Mamdani Belongó Mambo, the event was covered by the New York Times, Gothamist, WNYC, NY1, JazzTimes, 1010Wins, ABC7, Pix11, Hellgate, and more.
Today Belongó and O’Farrill announce the next chapter of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO)’s legendary residency in NYC. The weekly concert series that has been going strong for 29 years will continue this spring at City Winery, and then this summer and beyond at new NYC jazz club The Pocket. Upcoming Orchestra performances also include the third and final installation of Belongó’s 2026 partnership with El Museo Del Barrio on May 15 and 16, a performance series that began in January. The May performances are a part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 Festival.
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Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra’s Legendary Residency Continues
The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra has concluded a long-running Sunday night residency at Birdland. Today it announces a new chapter. Beginning on April 19, ALJO will perform 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 will begin 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.
O’Farrill expresses deep gratitude for the tens of thousands of fans who came to see ALJO at Birdland. The weekly residency was first started by O’Farrill’s father Chico, and became a core part of the cultural fabric of NYC. During the pandemic, O’Farrill enlisted the help of Wynton Marsalis and participated in a fundraising video that raised over $400,000 to help Birdland stay open as many concert venues struggled, and hosted a weekly Virtual Birdland online concert series that helped keep the brand alive while patrons couldn’t see live music in person. O’Farrill is also proud to have brought Birdland a Latin Grammy for Final Night at Birdland (2014). The Orchestra also expresses gratitude for the staff and management of Birdland for a remarkable and highly successful run.
Since its founding, Belongó has made an outstanding impact in New York City, providing free music education to tens of thousands of students in public schools; at senior centers, community centers, and prisons; and offering mentorship and performance programs that support high school students in becoming professional musicians. Belongó also presents world-class music performances in many renowned venues throughout the city, nationally, and internationally.
The Fat Cats youth orchestra program has worked with over 200 young musicians from throughout the New York metro area since its beginning at the historic West Village jazz club, and continues its ongoing Sunday performance residency at Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn as it celebrates 15 years in 2026. And its ongoing commitment to the local community includes a second annual financial workshop for local artists and creatives as tax season approaches, taking place in East Harlem tonight, April 2. More information here.
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Check out a full calendar of events here.
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April 2 - The Business of Art: Financial Tools for the Creative Community - Chase Bank 55 W. 125th Street
April 16-18 - National Sawdust - Brooklyn, NY - Arturo O'Farrill & Akua Dixon’s Quartette Indigo
April 19 - City Winery Manhattan - Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra - every Sunday through May 31 - 11:30AM except for May 10, 24, 31 at 7PM
April 25 - Harlem Library - NY, NY - Afro Latin Jazz Music Exploration monthly residency
May 1 - The Falcon - Marlboro, NY - Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
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
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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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