Adam O'farrill's Elephant

A figurehead of the new American jazz scene, as much at home in the playful, fusion-oriented world of pianist Hiromi as in the more complex, alternative worlds of artists such as Mary Halvorson and Vijay Iyer, trumpeter Adam O'Farrill invents his own lyrical, harsh and resolutely avant-garde music, reinvesting in a very contemporary way the piano-free quartet immortalized by Ornette Coleman. Against this resolutely open backdrop, Adam O'Farrill develops a naturally syncretic universe of compositions that build bridges between tradition and modernity, reflecting both the melodic and rhythmic richness of his Cuban heritage (he is the grandson of legendary arranger Chico O'Farrill) and the abundance of mixed influences that continue to make New York jazz so distinctive.