OMAR SOSA (1965- )
Pianist, percussionist, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader

WATCH A VIDEO

Omar Sosa, born in Camagüey, Cuba, is renowned for his vibrant blending  of jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, combining percussive piano stylings with electronic effects and Afro-Cuban shadings.He studied marimba and piano at the music conservatory in Camagüey and at Havana's prestigious Escuela Nacional de Musica and Instituto Superior de Arte.  While still a student he got his taste for jazz by tuning into a late night Cuban radio show, hosted by Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, a renowned Cuban drummer. Sosa's music is also rooted in the music of American jazz icons such like Theolonius, Monk, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarret, Coltrane, and Charlie Parker.  Cuban Jazz influences include Chucho Valdez, Irakere, and Emiliano Salvador. During his two year stint in Ecuador, Sosa embraced African based Ecuadorian folkloric music and later produced "Andarele," a project with the Afro-Ecuadorian group Koral y Esmeralda. In 1995, Sosa moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and joined forces with local latin music heavyweights, John Santos(percussionist) and Greg Landau( producer)  and produced a rapid succession of innovative World music recordings including "Omar Omar." (1996), "Free Roots (1997)," "Spirit Of The Roots," (1998) and "Bembon." (2000). His  2002 release " "Sentir," (2002), a masterful fusion of African and European melodies, rhythms and lyrics gained Sosa a Latin GRAMMY, GRAMMY nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album and the award for Afro-Caribbean Jazz Album of the Year from the Jazz. In 2003 Sosa pulled off a triple header with the debut of his "From Our Mother" an ambition collaboration with  the Oakland East Bay Symphony, a Smithsonian Institute's lifetime achievement award for his impact on the evolution of Latin music in the U.S. and  the release of  "A New Life", a CD dedicated to his son.  In his 2008 release "Afreecanos" Sosa continues to bring together a multi-national troupe of performers to create ground breaking jazz compositions peppered with musical forms, instruments and rhythms from Cuba, Africa and the Americas. Sosa's daring, vibrant approach stimulates and challenges both performers and audiences all over the world.

See you tomorrow to discover another "Born in April" jazz artist!