Manhattan School of Music Afro C

Biography

The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (MSM Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra) is a student big band ensemble at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, specializing in afro-cuban jazz, latin jazz, and big band styles. Formed under the leadership of Grammy-winning percussionist, composer, and educator Bobby Sanabria, the orchestra has gained recognition for its masterful performances and recordings that revive the history of Latin jazz, particularly its roots in Harlem during the 1920s to 1950s. The group consists of talented MSM students and alumni who deliver professional-level execution, blending classic arrangements with modern soloing.[1][3][4]

Bobby Sanabria serves as the primary conductor and music director, drawing on his Puerto Rican heritage and deep knowledge of Afro-Cuban traditions to inspire the ensemble. Notable releases include ¡Que Viva Harlem! (2014, Jazzheads), a tribute to Harlem's Latin jazz legacy featuring arrangements by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn adapted for full Afro-Cuban percussion, and Tito Puente Masterworks Live. The orchestra has performed at venues like the John C. Borden Auditorium, earning ecstatic audience responses for its danceable, swaggering sound. At times, leadership has shifted, with Arturo O'Farrill, an MSM alumnus and faculty member, directing the group.[1][3][5][6]

The orchestra's style emphasizes the fusion of jazz orchestration with Afro-Cuban rhythms, showcasing arrangements from historic bands like Machito’s Afro-Cubans alongside originals. Its legacy lies in educating the next generation of musicians—many of whom aspire to the standards set by MSM alumni like Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter—while producing recordings that support the school's scholarship fund and preserve Latin jazz heritage.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• Proceeds from the album ¡Que Viva Harlem! support the Manhattan School of Music Scholarship Fund.
• The orchestra's young musicians, many born after the Harlem Latin jazz era, revive history through Bobby Sanabria's direction, earning comparisons to Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus big bands.
• Features rare Afro-Cuban adaptations of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn arrangements, blending them with full percussion sections.
• Recorded live at MSM's John C. Borden Auditorium with excellent sound quality preserving dynamic range.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Bobby Sanabria - Primary conductor, music director, and educator (¡Que Viva Harlem! (2014), Tito Puente Masterworks Live) [2010s-present]
• Arturo O'Farrill - Director and MSM Jazz Arts faculty member (MSM Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra performances) [Recent years]

Key Collaborators

• Patrick Bartley - Alto and soprano sax soloist (¡Que Viva Harlem!) [2014]
• Xavier Del Castillo - Tenor sax and clarinet player (¡Que Viva Harlem!) [2014]
• Leo Pellegrino - Baritone sax player (¡Que Viva Harlem!) [2014]
• Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn - Arrangements adapted for the orchestra (Moon Over Cuba, Blood Count, Royal Garden Blues) [Adapted 2014]

External Links

• Spotify