Institute of Jazz Studies

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Chico O'Farrill Archives Arrive at IJS

We are thrilled to announce that the IJS is now the permanent home of the Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill Music and Personal Archives. This marks the acquisition of the first major Latin jazz archival collection in the Institute's 60-year history.

The collection contains O'Farrill's original music manuscripts, photographs, and sound recordings documenting his prolific career as a composer, arranger, and bandleader. Famed compositions such as “Afro Cuban Jazz Suite,” “Manteca Suite,” “Carambola,” and “Cuban Episode,” among others, are included in this acquisition for the institute. The institute is thrilled to add O’Farrill’s illustrious archives to its collection to celebrate Chico's monumental impact in jazz during his lifetime.

The O'Farrill collection will share a home with other great jazz archives, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Annie Ross, Benny Carter, and Abbey Lincoln. The collection was donated to the institute by the O'Farrill Family and Estate. Through this generous donation, Chico's legacy will be available for study and enjoyment for generations to come.

"On behalf of the O'Farrill family, we wish to thank the Institute of Jazz Studies for providing a home to Chico O'Farrill's musical legacy,” said composer/pianist/educator Arturo O'Farrill. “Chico would've been honored to know that his work is now available to scholars and students of jazz history. His contributions to jazz are remarkable for the vision and excellence he brought to this field. He was a pioneer and laid the foundation for Afro Latin jazz."