Omar Sosa
Composer-pianist-bandleader Omar Sosa is one of the most versatile jazz artists on the scene today. His musical trajectory traces the Diaspora from Cuba to Africa and Brazil; from Central America to Ecuador’s African-descent communities; from San Francisco and New York to his current home base in Barcelona. True to his Afro-Cuban origins, Sosa fashions a spirited vision of uncompromising artistic generosity that embraces humanity at large. Nominated for seven GRAMMY awards and twice for the BBC World Music Awards, Mr. Sosa received a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian Associates in Washington, DC in 2003 for his contribution to the development of Latin jazz in the United States. In April 2017 he was featured at SFJAZZ for 4 nights grossing over $100,000 in box office receipts.
In 2006, Omar Sosa began touring his critically acclaimed Afreecanos group, playing to enthusiastic audiences throughout the world. In 2012, Omar premiered his intimate Duo concert program with celebrated Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu. This duo became a Trio with the addition of Indian percussion master Trilok Gurtu. In 2014, Omar Sosa formed the popular Quarteto AfroCubano, which was his primary touring group for a few years. In 2017-18 he toured the world with Transparent Water featuring himself on piano and keyboards, Seckou Keita on Kora, and Gustavo Ovalles on percussion. In 2019 he toured The Aguas Trio with violinist-vocalist Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles on percussion. In 2022 he will be re-grouping with Seckou Keita on Kora, and Gustavo Ovalles on percussion. This band is being called the SUBA Trio which means sunrise in Mandinka. In October 2021, SUBA will be released world-wide on ARC Music.
Omar Sosa fuses a wide range of jazz, world music, and electronic elements with his native Afro-Cuban roots to create a fresh and original urban sound – all with a Latin jazz heart. His career embodies the expansive outlook of a visionary artist who has taken Monk’s uncompromising spirit to heart, while working ceaselessly to craft and project a unique voice.
Omar Sosa is available for concert and clinic activities.
In 2006, Omar Sosa began touring his critically acclaimed Afreecanos group, playing to enthusiastic audiences throughout the world. In 2012, Omar premiered his intimate Duo concert program with celebrated Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu. This duo became a Trio with the addition of Indian percussion master Trilok Gurtu. In 2014, Omar Sosa formed the popular Quarteto AfroCubano, which was his primary touring group for a few years. In 2017-18 he toured the world with Transparent Water featuring himself on piano and keyboards, Seckou Keita on Kora, and Gustavo Ovalles on percussion. In 2019 he toured The Aguas Trio with violinist-vocalist Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles on percussion. In 2022 he will be re-grouping with Seckou Keita on Kora, and Gustavo Ovalles on percussion. This band is being called the SUBA Trio which means sunrise in Mandinka. In October 2021, SUBA will be released world-wide on ARC Music.
Omar Sosa fuses a wide range of jazz, world music, and electronic elements with his native Afro-Cuban roots to create a fresh and original urban sound – all with a Latin jazz heart. His career embodies the expansive outlook of a visionary artist who has taken Monk’s uncompromising spirit to heart, while working ceaselessly to craft and project a unique voice.
Omar Sosa is available for concert and clinic activities.
The Critics Speak:
"Sosa is one of the truly illuminated minds of world jazz. He is shaping a new synthesis of Latin and American jazz." -Billboard Magazine
"Sosa's vision of contemporary jazz reaches across every imaginable boundary. He has all the traits necessary to become one of the important figures in jazz." -Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
"Sosa's music is the unifying sort, yoking together Africa and jazz and Latin America and hip-hop. He makes it work, being one of those rare birds whose keyboard skills are near those of Chick Corea and Chuco Valdes." -Ben Ratliff, New York Times
"Although Cuba has produced more than its share of leonine jazz pianists, Sosa stands out among them because of the crystalline beauty of his touch and the nimbleness of his technique." -Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
"Sosa is one of the truly illuminated minds of world jazz. He is shaping a new synthesis of Latin and American jazz." -Billboard Magazine
"Sosa's vision of contemporary jazz reaches across every imaginable boundary. He has all the traits necessary to become one of the important figures in jazz." -Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
"Sosa's music is the unifying sort, yoking together Africa and jazz and Latin America and hip-hop. He makes it work, being one of those rare birds whose keyboard skills are near those of Chick Corea and Chuco Valdes." -Ben Ratliff, New York Times
"Although Cuba has produced more than its share of leonine jazz pianists, Sosa stands out among them because of the crystalline beauty of his touch and the nimbleness of his technique." -Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
Concert Formats:
-Solo
-Duo with Paolo Fresu
-Quartet, Quintet, Sextet
Backline Needs:
-1 concert grand piano
-1 Fender Rhodes
-1 drum kit
-1 bass guitar amp
Select Discography:
Ilé
(Otá Records 2015)
Senses
(Otá Records 2014)
Eggun
(Otá Records 2013)
-Solo
-Duo with Paolo Fresu
-Quartet, Quintet, Sextet
Backline Needs:
-1 concert grand piano
-1 Fender Rhodes
-1 drum kit
-1 bass guitar amp
Select Discography:
Ilé
(Otá Records 2015)
Senses
(Otá Records 2014)
Eggun
(Otá Records 2013)
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