Omar Sosa-NDR Bigband CD ‘Es:sensual’

Back to Posts

Omar Sosa-NDR Bigband CD ‘Es:sensual’

U.S. Release Date: January 19, 2018

Es:sensual presents a continuation of Cuban pianist-composer Omar Sosas collaboration with Hamburgs NDR (North German RadioNorddeutscher Rundfunk) Bigband and Brazilian cellist-composer-arranger Jaques Morelenbaum, whose inaugural effort can be heard on Omar Sosa-NDR Bigband CD Ceremony (Ot, 2010).

Recorded at NDRs Hamburg studios under the direction of Sosa and Morelenbaum, Es:sensual features the latters vivid arrangements of selections from Omars CDs Free Roots (1997), Mulatos (2004), Live FIP (2006), Promise (2007), Across the Divide (2009), and Il (2014).

Sosa, Morelenbaum, and the NDR Bigband extend their many influences in a contemporary contribution to the expansive universe of world jazz, where Sosa resides as a generous, abundant, and ecstatically inspired creative spirit.

Omar possesses an incomparable capacity to bring the most diverse traditions into fruitful juxtaposition, moving through and far beyond his influences, from the folkloric to the classical, while sustaining a singular and joyous cosmopolitan voice. Omar is an artist whos constantly seeking new combinations, and each of his projects is marked by a revelatory spirit of creative freedom.

Rooted in Afro-Cuban spiritual and percussive traditions, and intimately versed in a range of contemporary world musics, Omars finely textured compositions present Morelenbaum with the foundation to summon forth an expansive palette of sounds, inspiring the NDR Bidbands brilliant soloists, maximizing the ensembles sonic potential, and providing ample latitude for Sosas own luminous keyboard improvisations.

Es:sensual pays tribute to the majestic figures of Afro-Cuban big-band jazzFrank Machito Grillo, Chico OFarrill, Cachao, Mario Bauz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chano Pozowhile also drawing inspiration from Cuban luminaries such as Armando de Sequeira Romeu, Peruchn, Pancho Quinto, Lzaro Ros, Lili Martnez, Benny Mor, Arsenio Rodrguez, Rubn Gonzlez, Frank Emilio Flynn, Bebo Valds, and a succeeding generation of artists including Chucho Valds, Paquito DRivera, and the revolutionary conjunto Irakere.

This project grew from Omars conversation some years ago with Hamburg producer Stefan Gerdes of NDR, who facilitated the connection with Morelenbaum, a celebrated arranger known for his trailblazing work with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Cesria Evora, and Mariza, among many others.

The NDR Bigband, under principal conductor and arranger Jrg Achim Keller, is an ensemble of consummate soloists whose talents have been highlighted through the work of such noted arrangers as Michael Gibbs, Steve Gray, and Colin Towns. NDR Bigband collaborations comprise a virtual Whos Who of world jazz, including Chet Baker, Oscar Brown, Jr., Paquito DRivera, Pee Wee Ellis, Joe Gallardo, Lionel Hampton, Dave Holland, Abdullah Ibrahim, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Joe Pass, Joe Sample, Maria Schneider, and Wayne Shorter.
Michael Stone

Share this post

Back to Posts