Omar Sosa "Live a FIP" CD Release

Omar Sosa has released a number of live, solo piano recordings and a number of live, piano-percussion duo recordings over the years. With Live a FIP, Omar offers his first live, ensemble CD, featuring a Quintet comprised of bass, drums, percussion and saxophone. Recorded at Radio France in Paris in front of a live, studio audience, Live a FIP offers new interpretations of many of the compositions from Mr. Sosa's 2006 GRAMMY-nominated CD, Mulatos, as well as a number of new pieces. FIP is an acronym for France Inter Paris, part of the Radio France broadcasting network.

Joining Mr. Sosa for the May 12, 2005 date, and recording together for the first time, are regular Sosa collaborators (the late) Ang Daz (Cuba) on percussion, Childo Tomas (Mozambique) on electric bass and vocals, and Luis Depestre (Cuba) on saxophones. Completing the ensemble is Paris-based drummer, Steve Argelles (UK), who produced the award-winning Mulatos (OTA1014) and the follow-up Mulatos Remix (OTA1016).

Compositions from Mulatos include “Nuevo Manto" and “Dos Caminos", as well as the sweetly lilting “Iyawo", and the haunting “El Consenso". New material includes “Mtisse" and “Paralelo", both part of Mr. Sosa's recent touring repertoire, and “African Sunrise", featuring Childo Tomas' African vocals and m'bira (known as a “thumb piano"). Closing the recording is a rousing version of one of Mr. Sosa's signature encores, “Muevete En D", featuring the Ang Daz on cajon (a wooden “box" drum).

Percussionist Ang Daz is renowned for his contributions with influential Cuban artists, Irakere, the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Rubn Gonzlez, and Cachato Lpez, as well as acclaimed US trumpeter Roy Hargrove. On Live a FIP, we are treated to Ang's artistry on congas, cajon and bongo. The recording is dedicated to his memory.

Childo Tomas recently made his US performing debut, joining Mr. Sosa for shows at Yoshi's in Oakland and the new Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club in Miami. He will also join Omar for the upcoming October 2006 tour dates in the United States (see below).

Official release date in the United States is October 10, 2006.

Upcoming U.S. Tour Dates:

Saturday, September 30 (featuring percussionist Mino Cinelu)
Beantown Jazz Festival Boston, MA
www.beantownjazz.org

Wednesday, October 4
S.O.B.'s New York, NY
www.sobs.com

Thursday, October 5
Vermont Arts Exchange North Bennington, VT
802-442-5549

Friday, October 6
Hartford International Jazz Festival at Wadsworth Atheneum / Aetna Theater Hartford, CT
www.HIJF.com

Saturday, October 7
Teatro de la Universidad de Puerto Rico San Juan, PR
www.ticketpop.com

For details, and complete touring schedule, including upcoming October 2006 tours in Scotland and Japan, please visit www.melodia.com.