New Omar Sosa CD Release "Ballads"

Ballads is available now directly from Omar Sosa's website at www.melodia.com/order.php. And worldwide distribution information is available at www.melodia.com/dist.php.

While Omar Sosa is often lauded for his high-energy, percussive piano style, he has also a profound sense of expression in the delicate, lyrical realm. In this collection of ballads, loosely defined, taken from four of his early recordings, we are treated to a listening experience of beautiful melody and rich harmony, full of romanticism and grace - all with a Latin jazz heart.

The compilation opens with Omar Sosa's signature ballad, “Mis Tres Notas", taken from his first ensemble recording, Free Roots, and closes with the beautiful love song, “Shirma", taken from the same album, and featuring the artistry of reedman Sheldon Brown on bass clarinet. Also from Free Roots, we find “Raya", this time with Sheldon Brown on alto saxophone.

Included from Omar Sosa's second ensemble CD, Spirit Of The Roots, we have “Para Ella", with Sheldon Brown on tenor saxophone, “Antes De Ir Va Esto", featuring John Calloway on flute and Orestes Vilato on timbal, and “Tienes Un Solo", featuring the divine Anastacia (Newkirk) on vocals.

And from the final recording of Omar Sosa's Roots Trilogy, Bembon, we find “Gracias Senor" and “Para Dos Parados", both featuring poignant string arrangements, and the later featuring the exquisite vocal styling of Maria Marquez. Finally, from the groundbreaking CD Prietos, come two very delicate pieces, “Fragile", again featuring vocalist Maria Marquez, and “Twice As Sad", with Sheldon Brown on tenor saxophone.

Ballads has a remarkable unity and organic quality, carrying the listener away on a relaxed, dream-like journey. For Omar Sosa fans who may have missed some of his early ensemble recordings, or for those who have enjoyed the quieter, more introspective dimensions of this remarkable artist, Ballads is a must-have. For those new to Omar Sosa, Ballads is a very accessible beginning.

Upcoming Omar Sosa Concert Schedule (please see www.melodia.com for details):

September 8: Teatro Diana, Guadalajara, Mexico
September 9: Teatro de la Ciudad, Mexico City, Mexico
September 16: Mercat de Musica Viva de Vic, Spain
September 21: Motion Blue, Yokohama, Japan
September 22 - 25: Blue Note Tokyo, Japan
September 29: Auditorium de l'Encre, Cayenne, French Guyana
September 30: Kayenn Botanik Jazz Festival, Cayenne, French Guyana
October 15: Lisner Auditorium, Washington, DC, USA
October 16: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ, USA
October 19: Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, BC, Canada
October 21: Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, USA
October 22: Royce Hall, U.C.L.A., Los Angeles, CA, USA
October 23: The Triple Door, Seattle, WA, USA
October 30: Jazz and Wine of Peace Festival, Cormons, Italy
November 4: Brotfabrik, Frankfurt, Germany
November 5: Jazzfestival Gottingen, Germany
November 19: Salle des Fetes, Conilhac, France
November 23: Festival Internacional de Jazz de Madrid, Spain

For future tour dates, please visit www.melodia.com/tour.php. Or for more information please call OTA Records at 510-339-3389 or email [email protected].