Omar Sosa Quarteto AfroCubano will hit New Orleans for two unique shows Saturday, July 26, at Snug Harbor at 8:00 p.m. and 10p.m.
Born in Cuba in 1965, Sosa began his musical career a very young age. Learning percussion, marimba and piano from prestigious Cuban musical institutions, he drew from many influences, from traditional Afro-Cuban music to European classical music and jazz.
Photo by Andy Nozaka
Years of travelling and musical experimentation led to the creation of a kind of Latin jazz that is unique and filled with adventurous rhythms and singular melodies. An extraordinary composer and musician, Sosa brings jazz and world music together in an innovative way, fueling his music with hip-hop, modern jazz and Cuban popular music. And he managed to do so with a natural ease, dedication and passion that harkens back to African ritual ceremonies.
With his New Afro-Cuban Quartet, Sosa’s piano skills meet the talent of accomplished Cuban drummer Ernesto Simpson, Cuban Leandro Saint-Hill on the saxophone and flute, and the great Childo Tomas on bass, whose groove and joy helped him bring his native Mozambique to life on his last opus, Moçambique Ni N’Tumbuluku.
The four musicians together create a music mixing classical melodies with African and South-American rhythms, as well as religious chants with contemporary jazz harmonies. The result is inspiring, powerful and magnetic.
Having performed live throughout 2013 and 2014, the band has rejoiced hundreds of crowds. Within a single tune, tenderness can open up to percussive and energetic dancing rhythms, before slowing down and giving way to one of Leandro Saint-Hill’s wonderful solos. Every tune is a platform where apparently diverging styles and influences meet and dialogue. Recordings of their performance at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York last may can only give you a hint of their talent.
With a show drawing from many cultures yet displaying a unique subtlety and sense of nuance echoing centuries of music, the seven times Grammy-nominated Sosa and his partners are sure to bring New Orleans’ fans a great night of colorful musical poetry. Helped by electronic loops, found sound, children’s toys and African and Middle Eastern instruments, the show is sure to be a revelation.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling 504-949-0696. For further information, visit www.snugjazz.com.
