San Francisco, California, USA – Omar Sosa
has a new recording, Mulatos ((OTA1014), on the Ota label. Omar Sosa
searches out new sounds for a music that is simultaneously his own, and part of
an Afro-Cuban culture. Mulatos is a fitting description for the kind of
approach Omar is adopting - a mix of Cuban music that dances with the Arabic
lute (the ud) and clarinet, with rhythmic inspirations of Indian tabla, jazz
drums, and studio mixing.
The album Mulatos features the highly individual talents of Dhafer Youssef (ud), Steve Argüelles (drums, electronics), Dieter Ilg (double bass), Philippe Foch (tabla), and Renaud Pion (clarinets). With the exception of Omar Sosa, the relation to Cuban music for these musicians is somewhat removed, though respectful and engaging. Omar's extraordinary abilities as a composer, pianist, marimba percussionist (new here to many of his followers) and his authoritative leadership threads this together beautifully to create a major development for a Cuban jazz artist.
Joining the project as special guest on clarinet for three compositions, someone whose artistry Omar has admired for many, many years - Paquito D'Rivera (tracks 1, 2, 6).
Producer Steve Arguelles remarks, "It's an album that is tightly constructed, like movie editing in the sense that the clarity of musical ideas are presented to maximum effect, be it a simple melody, a curious rhythm, or an electronic touch here and there. It remains rich, too, in
the way that a favorite record is what you keep returning to, an important objective of ours. It tells a story about Omar's relation to jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms and spirituality, the piano, and a freely expressive mind".
[Buy Mulatos now].
World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20040927194303859