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Omar Sosa (Cuba)
Song : °Õ´Ç°ù¾±»å²¹²Ô³úó²Ô
Album : Sentir (Otá Records, USA)
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Omar Sosa was born and raised in Camaguey, Cuba. He initially studied percussion at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Musica in Havana then began to focus on the piano. In the late 1980s, having studied everything from Afro-Cuban folkloric traditions to European classical music, Omar began working with two Cuban vocalists - first Vicente Feliu, and then Xiomara Laugart - serving as musical director for their touring and recording ensembles.
Moving to Quito, Ecuador, in 1993, Omar discovered the folkloric music of Esmeraldas, a pocket of African-rooted culture on the north-west coast of that country known especially for its use of the marimba. In addition to launching his own jazz fusion ensemble, Entrenoz, Omar produced Andarele, a recording by the Afro-Ecuadorian group Koral y Esmarelda. Omar then moved to San Francisco late in 1995 where he became a noted member of the local Latin jazz community. The next year Omar made his U.S. recording debut on Otá Records with Omar Omar, followed in 1997 with the first in a trilogy of recordings - Free Roots, Spirit of the Roots and Bembon - that mixed jazz piano with rhythms from across Latin America and Africa.
In 1998 Omar began collaborating with percussionist John Santos. The duo released a live recording, Nfumbe, in conjunction with their appearance at the San Francisco Jazz Festival that year. The following year Omar released his second solo piano recording, Inside. Omar also travelled to Ecuador in 1999 to record his large-ensemble CD Bembon.
With Prietos (2001) and Sentir (2002), Omar stretches his genre-expanding fusion still further with the use of traditional vocals and instruments from the Gnawa culture of North Africa. Tongues in Arabic, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Yoruba, as well as instruments like the guembri, oud, djembi, balafon, and marimba mix to create a sound somewhere between Sun Ra and Fela Kuti. In 1999 Omar relocated from California to Barcelona, Spain, where he has dived into West Europe's most vibrant music scene.
Garth Cartwright, October 2003
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 Read other peoples comments
I had, during the summer 2004, the pleasure to work with Omar as sound engineer during his performance in Lavagna, Italy. All the people around there were shocked, and me too. Thank you Omar.
Marcello
I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Omar Sosa play the piano at the Cape May Jazz Festival, it was the greatest musical experience I have ever had. His music is exciting, and he is also, what an entertainer. He makes love to the piano and to his audience. I highly recommend anyone who hasn't seen him, to do so whenever they get the opportunity. HE IS AMAZING!
Ila
I saw one of his concert in Minneapolis/St Paul. He is an amazing musician.
sunny
I had a chance to see live concert of Omar Sosa and his band in Termoli jazz festival (Italy) in August, 2003 and enjoyed it a lot. Since then I try to listen to everything what he and his band playes.
Renata
Omar Sosa is an amazing musician. His live album, Ayaguna, is an incredible mix of African rythms and latin jazz. Definently one to discover. ENJOY.
Funmi A
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