Jazzy Nights at AU PAC

Where else can you dance in the aisles in a staid concert hall? Arturo O'Farrill and his Grammy award-winning, 18-piece Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra on Friday night got the audience to do just that. Concertgoers almost rattled the screws out of their seats at Adelphi University's Performing Arts Center (AU PAC) as they rocked to the hot sounds.

In his introduction, Michael Hume, director of music at Adelphi, indicated that this was the first concert collaboration with Adelphi University and Symphony Space, located in Manhattan. It consisted of a pre-concert "underscore" discussion with O'Farrill and Symphony Space's new artistic director, Laura Kaminsky, and the concert afterwards.

Kaminsky is a composer whose music has been performed around the world. "It's a beautiful hall here. The project came about with Symphony Space, that's embarking on a year of events in film, literature and celebrating the Latino culture from A to V, V being Venezuela," she said. "Arturo is in-residence at the Space. We're thrilled we're taking it on the road. It's joy-filled music." Kaminsky's company is funding emerging musicians and commissioning new works so as to encourage musical expression and education.

She had a dialogue on stage with O'Farrill about his life, musical influences and philosophy. His family background consists of a Cuban mom and Irish dad. His father was the first composer in his life that was devoted to his craft. He was also influenced by Tito Puente, the "King of Latin Music," who specialized in Latin jazz and Mambo and "was a sacred name in our household."

O'Farrill added, "You can teach notes and dynamics, but music comes from within. The notes are secondary to the spirit of the composition."

The passionate sound was felt in his composition, "A Wise Latina," about the new justice of the United States Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, who has a Puerto Rican background. "The piece started flowing out of me ... How do you evoke a 'wise Latina?' You also need to have the incredible alien concepts of justice with melodic statements that are non-human," O'Farrill said.

The orchestra also played "Picadillo," composed by Puente and "40 Acres and a Burro" composed by O'Farrill from their new album, as well as others equally energetic.

Erika Darenberg, an Adelphi music education sophomore, said, "This is the most enjoyable concert and it has inspired me to play my instrument. I hope that one day I'll have the ability to improvise."

One of the big treats of the night was hearing O'Farrill's 15-year-old son, Adam, play a number of trumpet solos. His playing virtuosity is equal to someone more than twice his age. The opportunity to play and compose with high-quality musicians will set him on the right course for a life in music like his dad, Arturo, and grandfather, Chico O'Farrill.

Garden City resident and "Distinguished Alumni Award" winner Joan Kuster was impressed. She was there with her friend, Rose Marie Guzzo, also from Garden City.

According to Kali Chan, media relations director for Adelphi, the 2008 Concert Hall with seating for 500 is "specifically designed for chamber ensemble, orchestral and vocal performances. A Gustofs acoustically- engineered stage shell, ceiling clouds and motorized fabric walls ensure that every patron experiences the highest quality auditory experience."

For more information on concerts at Adelphi, visit www.adelphi.edu.