Jazz Speaks

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Stranger No More: Adam O'Farrill

Photo courtesy of the artistO’Farrill has been a potent last name in jazz for decades. First there was Chico, who started as Benny Goodman’s arranger before taking the helm of his own big band; then his son Arturo, who carried the tradition of Latin jazz with dizzying piano work and leadership; and now his sons Adam and Zack, the cubs carving out their own names in the jazz world. Adam, the 21-year-old trumpeter, has shown in his burgeoning career that he is standing on the shoulders of giants without simply hitching a free ride to the top. He plays with poise and authority, and brings his group “Stranger Days,” featuring Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on saxophone, Walter Stinson on bass and his brother Zack on drums, to the Jazz Gallery on November 20.O’Farrill has had a busy year. He’s just coming back from a global tour with the fearsome saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, who featured O’Farrill on his latest album, “Bird Calls.” He tore up Birdland with the Boss Sextet, featuring other members of the O’Farrill clan, and also has a debut album with Stranger Days slated for May.O’Farrill actually came to The Gallery with the same group around this time last year, and Jazz Speaks caught up with him then. He talked about his admiration for Ornette Coleman and Daniel Day Lewis, and said of playing with his family members: “It’s similar with my dad’s group; we’ve always been playing with each other: my dad, my brother, and I. It’s just like goofing around and beating each other up.” You can read the full interview here, and be sure to check out Adam blowing over this slinky arrangement of "My Favorite Things" with the Steven Feifke Big Band, below. Adam O'Farrill's Stranger Days performs at The Jazz Gallery on Friday, November 20th, 2015. The group features Mr. O'Farrill on trumpet, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on tenor saxophone, Walter Stinson on bass, and Zack O'Farrill on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. $22 general admission ($12 for members) for each set. Purchase tickets here.