Omar Sosa is the master of finding new musical arrangements and instrumental combinations. He is completely free in his compositions of music, rhythms, and sounds.
In January 2019, Sosa and Morelenbaum, released a new CD, Es:sensual, which features the latters vivid arrangements from Omar’s previous Musicall successes including selections from Free Roots (1997), Mulatos (2004), Live FIP (2006), Promise (2007), Across the Divide (2009), and Il (2014).
Morelenbaum and the NDR Bigband chose world class Omar Sosa because he is beloved all around the world due because his compositions and performances are as generous, abundant, and ecstatically as his creative spirit.
At the upcoming performances the band will also perform classics from their Transparent Water album that as the title suggests, Transparent Water is meant to be evocative of translucence and flowing light. It is a deeply spiritual recording that incorporates folk, jazz and sounds from across the planet. It was produced in 2017 here in Oakland by OTA Records.
Es:sensual is also 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 Bigbands brilliant soloists, maximizing the ensembles sonic potential, and providing ample latitude for Sosas own luminous keyboard improvisations.
NDR reports: “Es:sensual pays tribute to the majestic figures of Afro-Cuban big-band jazz Frank Machito Grillo, Chico OFarrill, Cachao, Mario Bauz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Chano Pozo, while 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.”
Hamburg producer Stefan Gerdes of NDR, facilitated the connection between Omar Sosa and 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.
About NDR Bigband
The NDR Bigband, under principal conductor and arranger Jörg 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.