The Belongó benefit takes over City Winery at Pier 57 this Wednesday, October 14, at 6 p.m. If you care about where New York’s next great musicians are going to come from, you want to be in that room. Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra headline “Casa Blues,” a night built to keep free music education flowing into NYC public schools. It also pushes Casa Belongó, a new culture hub rising in East Harlem, toward the finish line.
A Montuno Born From the Blues
O’Farrill didn’t just book the gig. He wrote something new for it. “House of the Rising Son Montuno” premieres Wednesday, crossing the old blues standard with Cuban son. The blues and Afro Latin jazz have been cousins for generations. They just don’t always get seated at the same table.
Then come the special guests. “Blue” Lou Marini, an original Blues Brother, was in the band for the 1980 film and played in the SNL Band from its first season through 1983. Leon Pendarvis spent years as that band’s keyboardist, arranger, and co-musical director. Together with the orchestra, they’ll rework soul and blues classics in an Afro Latin key.
Daymé Arocena and The Fat Cats
Havana-born singer Daymé Arocena brings the voice NPR Music once placed somewhere between Celia Cruz and Aretha Franklin. She also sings on O’Farrill’s Grammy-nominated 2025 album, The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico.
The Fat Cats, Belongó’s youth ensemble led by Zack O’Farrill, celebrate 15 years this season. These kids are the point of the whole night.
Honoring the People Who Build Community
Ballet Hispánico’s Eduardo Vilaro is the Arts Honoree. He joined the company as a dancer in 1985 and came back in 2009 as only its second leader since Tina Ramirez founded it in 1970. His dancers will perform selections from Palladium Nights, including a duet in tribute to Ramirez.
Diane Louard-Michel of Lantern Community Services receives the Community Service Recognition. She believes housing and culture belong together, and that belief helped link the Timbale Terrace development to Casa Belongó. ABC7’s Tanya Rivero hosts.
What the Belongó Benefit Pays For
Expect domino tables, graffiti name tags, live caricature artists, and silent and live auctions. The money supports free music classes in public schools, community programs, a city performance season, and free concerts. It also helps complete Casa Belongó at Park Avenue and 118th Street. Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed the center inside an affordable housing development, which is exactly where culture should live.
Tickets and details are at belongo.org/benefit. For tables, contact Andrea Thompson (athompson@belongo.org) or Fatin Boumaaz (fboumaaz@belongo.org). For sponsorships, contact Diane Thompson (dthompson@belongo.org). This Belongó benefit sounds good, and it does good. Go.