Afro Latin Jazz Alliance / Belongo

The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance (ALJA) was founded in 2007 by GRAMMY award-winning pianist, composer and educator, Arturo O'Farrill. With the support of prominent leaders from the worlds of jazz and Latin culture, O'Farrill launched ALJA to serve as a non-profit organization that could advance both the performance and educational aspects of this uniquely Pan-American art form, developing new audiences for big band Latin jazz and creating a robust educational program for young performers.

Through fifteen years of public engagement, ALJA has assumed the work of bringing attention to Afro Latin Jazz as an important American art form becoming the only one focusing on Afro Latin Jazz performance, education, and preservation.

Today, ALJA embraces its mission with a commitment to social justice, equity, inclusion, and the equality of all cultures worldwide, emanating from African and indigenous roots, through the entry point of jazz. Furthermore, ALJA implements its mission with core values such as cultural inclusiveness, groundbreaking creativity, unremitting excellence, and purposeful engagement.

Further, ALJA is in the process of building a new venue in East Harlem dedicated to presenting, performing and educating the globally minded Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center. Projected to open its doors in 2026.