On Sentir, the globetrotting, Cuban-born pianist Omar Sosa is joined not by a full band, but rather by a host of percussionists and vocalists. Sosa remains focused on communicating a kind of ecstatic, multicultural religiosity -- most of these tracks are dominated by fervent chanting in one of several languages, underscored by rolling percussion grooves. Sosa's piano is the only Western instrument on the scene, a fact that somehow gives it added power. Like his previous album, Prietos, this one also has a hip-hop element, with Terence Nicholson (aka Sub-Z) contributing rap poetry on five of the tracks. Despite its passionate intent, Sentir winds up feeling a little overcrowded and one-dimensional, although there are moments of great clarity and beauty, particularly on sparser pieces like "Sucesion en Blanco,""Oda al Negro," and "Tres Notas en Amarillo." - David R. Adler
Tracks
01. Opening For Elegguá
02. Sucesion En Blanco
03. Rojo Changó
04. Manto Blanco
05. Toridanzón
06. Azul Yemayá
07. Oda Al Negro
08. Sister In Yellow
09. Cielo Mar Azules
10. Tres Notas En Amarillo
11. Azul Yemayu
12. Eggun
13. Sentir
OMAR SOSA piano, marimba, guiro, percussion, voice
GUSTAVO OVALLES percussion, voice
MARTHA GALARRAGA voice, percussion
EL HOUSSAINE KILI guembri, gargabas, tan-tan, voice
MULAY M ‘ HAMED ENNEJI FAKIJAN guembri, darbukkah
JOHN SANTOS percussion, voice
YASSIR CHADLY guembri, claps
BOUCHAIB ABDELHADI oud, violin
TERENCE NICHOLSON‘’Sub Z’’ poesía rapera
RANDY ROOD didjeridu
JUSTO SOLER vocals
Music arrangued and composed by Omar Sosa
Recorded at Ventilador Music, Barcelona, Spain; Autie Studios, El Cerrito, California and Emeryville Recording, Emeryville, CA
WorldVillage WVF479053 France