“Prietos” Reviews and Summer 2001 Tour Schedule

Back to Posts

“Prietos” Reviews and Summer 2001 Tour Schedule

Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa released his new large-ensemble recording “Prietos” (OTA1008) last month in the United States (May 2001). Distributed by Harmonia Mundi USA (Los Angeles), Prietos is an explosive mix of sounds from Cuba, Morocco, Esmeraldas (Ecuador), Venezuela, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and the United States.

Writing for The Washington Post (May 20, 2001), Fernando Gonzalez observes that Sosa’s “pan-African, pan-Latin sound has grown both more expansive and more sharply drawn. The results have not only musical coherence but also intellectual and emotional integrity. Prietos is a candidate for record of the year in Latin jazz.”

Billboard (June 9, 2001) describes Prietos as a “wild ride that careens through Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz, gnawa and Esmeraldeno chants, funk, and post-bop forms. Certainly one of the most passionate and eclectic world jazz titles in recent years.” (Philip Van Vleck)

Nils Jacobson of allaboutjazz.com (April 2001) writes that Omar “integrates an incredibly broad variety of styles without sounding forced or pretentious. When the music of Morocco collides with the music of Cuba, Sosa finds enough in common to unite them into a seamless whole. The secret is grounded respect for the African and post-African traditions. Prietos is more a recognition of common ground than any kind of post-modern pastiche.” As Sosa puts it in his liner notes: “We are all children of the same Mother Africa”.

Prietos features over 30 musicians, including Omar’s core ensemble: ELLIOT KAVEE (drums), GUSTAVO OVALLES (percussion), MARTHA GALARRAGA (Yoruba vocals), SHELDON BROWN (saxophones), and GEOFF BRENNAN (acoustic bass). On tour with the band this spring and summer is Washington, DC-based spoken word artist SUB-Z. Special guests include Yassir Chadly (Arabic vocals), Robbie Kwock (trumpet), John Santos (percussion), and Maria Marquez (vocals), et al.

Distribution in continental Europe (EEU) except Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is by Night & Day Distribution, Paris (Karonte in Spain and Portugal). Distribution in GAS is by Skip Records/Edel Contraire, Hamburg. Distribution in Japan is by Music Camp, Inc. (Tokyo). Distribution in Canada is by Night & Day Canada (Montreal).

The touring schedule for the Omar Sosa Septet this summer includes:

*July 4 Atlantis, Basel, Switzerland

*July 6 Lugano Estival Jazz 2001, Lugano, Switzerland

*July 7 Traumzeit Festival, Duisburg, Germany

*July 9 Nuits d’Afrique, Montreal, Canada

*July 10 Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, Canada

*July 11 Festival d’ete International de Quebec, Canada

*July 12 Festival d’ete International de Quebec, Canada

*July 14 Palatia Jazz, Landau, Germany

*July 24 Les Fenals, Fitou, France (Duo with Gustavo Ovalles)

*July 26 Festival des 5 Continents, Marseilles, France

*July 28 Festival de Cornouaille, France

*July 29 Tempo Latino, Vic Fezensac, France

*August 1 l’ete Frappe, Grenoble, France

*August 2 Spoletto Festival, Spoletto, Italy

*August 3 Avignon Jazz Festival, Avignon, France

*August 5 Evora, Portugal

*August 8-12 Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany

*August 24-25 TLG, Tokyo, Japan

Watch for our next newsletter with an update on Omar’s summer and fall touring schedules.

Comments? Questions? Please reply by return email. You’ll find more information on Omar Sosa and his recordings on our website, www.melodia.com.

Share this post

Back to Posts