Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Omar Sosa: Ayaguna

Omar Sosa: Ayaguna

Item: Ayaguna
Rating: 0
Author: Joel Roberts

By Joel Roberts
April 5, 2003
View read count

Omar Sosa is a fusion artist in the best sense of the word. The virtuosic pianist mixes his Cuban roots with tastes of bebop, free jazz, even hip-hop and electronica, into a strikingly fresh and spicy modern stew that's much more than the sum of its ingredients. Sosa's new duo album with Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles was recorded before a live audience in Japan. Much of the energetic set sounds freely improvised, with Sosa moving from delicate, unabashedly romantic melodies to wild blasts of percussive noise in a manner that recalls the best of Keith Jarrett, though without the grunts. There's an underlying passion and spirituality to Sosa's playing that shines through at all times; plus he's got plenty of chops.

Ovalles, playing a variety of Venezuelan percussion instruments, as well as congas, maracas, guiro, snare and cymbals, interacts seamlessly and unobtrusively with Sosa. The two share a devotion to creative explorations rooted in Afro-Cuban rhythms, but wide open to a world of other influences. This is “Latin jazz” for the 21st century.

FOLLOW Joel Roberts and get notified whenever a new article published.
Joel Roberts has been contirbuting to AAJ since its earliest days.

Track Listing

Reflection 2. Una Tradicion Negra 3. Iyawo (Opening) 4. Dias de Iyawo 5. Africa Madre Viva 6. Trip in the White Scarf 7. Toridanz

Personnel

Omar Sosa

piano

Omar Sosa--piano Gustavo Ovalles--drums

Album information

Title: Ayaguna | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Ota Records

About Omar Sosa

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Funk Transition
< Previous

Ellery Eskelin: Twenty Years in New ...
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.