Search - Omar Sosa :: Live a Fip

Sheer Brilliance

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 12/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Omar Sosa, Cuban jazz pianist extraordinaire, here records his finest disc to date, surpassing, unbelievably, Mulatos and Pictures of Soul.



Everything comes together for him here serendipitously: right players, right program, right tunes, right venue.



Over his decades-plus career, Sosa has as often recorded live dates as studio sessions. Here, he's live in the studio, perhaps his ultimate venue. He's got on board both familiar players, Steve Arguelles (drums) and exotic ones--Miguel "Anga" Diaz (percussion); Childo Tomas (electric bass, m'bira, vocals); and Luis Depestre (saxophones and minor hand percussion). He's recorded both new tunes ("Metisse," "African Sunrise," "Paralelo," and "Muevete En D") as well as selections off his spectacular recent release, Mulatos ("Nuevo Manto," "Dos Caminos," "Iyawo," and "El Consenso").



What stands out to me most, besides the seamless integration of previously heard Sosa gems with intriguing new tunes, is the entirely remarkable playing of electric bassist Childo Tomas. First off, he achieves an incredibly deep and Sehnsuct-laden approach on e-bass, rendering a depth and gravitas to these proceedings that situates them in the precincts of unfettered gloriousness. Second, his vocal stylings lend huge force and authenticity to this remarkable music.



Next, one notices the brave contributions of late percussive genius Miguel "Anga" Diaz. One can hardly imagine this altogether transcendent disc without his participation.



Third, saxophonist Depestre mightily impresses. A name new to me, he seems to have this incredible ability to situate his statements exactly in the center of whatever mood leader Sosa evokes.



But the real revelation here is Sosa himself. His remarkable solo ruminations on "Dos Caminos" are worth the price of admission. Beyond his spectacular pianisms, however, lurks his hard-won yet casually virtuoso approach to his instrument, most tellingly revealed, perhaps, on the to-die-for gorgeousness of his playing on the brilliantly reworked "Iyawo," with its entirely seductive "Guantanamera" vibe, first encountered on Mulatos.



The high point, undoubtedly, is the extended rendition of "El Consenso," clocking in at over 10 minutes, featuring the staggeringly brilliant sax stylings of Luis Depestre, matched by Sosa's ruminative piano.



Without a doubt, this is my disc of the year, maybe the decade. You'd be a fool to miss this one."