Omar Sosa | Mulatos

Tags

Afro-Cuban, Jazz, Omar Sosa, Piano

Back in 2004, the phenomenal Afro-Cuban pianist Omar Sosa rocked the music world by winning a Grammy award in the “Latin Jazz” category for his fascinating masterpiece “Mulatos”.

Omar Sosa | Mulatos – [Otá Records, 2004]

Omar Sosa - Mulatos

This is Omar Sosa’s breakthrough cd. I have heard Sosa in several less satisfying formats[solo, duo’s, etc] and in his dabbling in hip hop and I am thrilled to write that he has reached his pinnacle in this expanded setting. First of all Sosa’s music warrants additional colors and shades that a larger supporting cast gives it. Secondly the hip hop segments in previous cd’s like Sentir and Prietos were badly out of place and just succeeded in having me “skip” them on otherwise decent cd’s.

Apparently Sosa received similar advice because the rap crap is nowhere to be found on Mulato’s. What is left is interesting, catchy world jazz music. Sosa’s playing is “Monk like” and percussive but it is his compositions and arrangements that are the stars. The supporting musicians while completely able are more of an ensemble preaching Sosa’s wonderful compositional “message“.

To describe the content of the cd is as complex as some of the music. Think Latin, African, Caribbean with a little dixieland. A real gumbo like Sosa himself. —M. Murphy

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::

Kalil Wilson | Easy to Love

Tags

Jazz, Kalil Wilson, Male Jazz Vocalist

Kalil Wilson | Easy to Love – [Kalil Wilson, 2009]

Kalil Wilson - Easy to Love

It is somewhat disconcerting how few new male vocalists inhabiting the jazz idiom practice their craft with a degree of genius and virtuosity as saxophonists and other instrumentalists. It is a conundrum why not so many new artists play the first instrument–the human voice. Some posit that poeta nascitur non fit? Alternatively, is it true that vocal art is the one art that cannot really be taught, but only refined in those who “were born with it?” Are the days of great crooners over? There is, after all, only one Ray Charles, only one Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra; Al Hibbler, Milt Grayson, Johnny Hartman, Kurt Elling and Bobby McFerrin…

Until that is it appears that Kalil Wilson came along. Here is a singer, a profoundly smokey tenor who is so singular and naturally expressive that his voice appears biologically connected to “living breath.” His phrasing, dynamics and expression are sublime, effortless and otherworldly. Yet he is completely connected to the long and celebrated tradition of vocalists too many to name here. Wilson is heard here Easy to Love, a debut of bottomless depth and grandeur, but also self-effacing and completely lacking in the grandstanding that some vocalists might resort to today, in order to be heard and appreciated. —Raul da Gama/Latin Jazz.net

You can access the full review here … and listen to a sample of this extraordinary vocalist Kalil Wilson.

..:: Source: LatinJazz.net ::..

Various Artist | Pure Fire! – A Gilles Peterson Impulse Collection

Tags

African American, Gilles Peterson, Jazz

Various Artist | Pure Fire! – A Gilles Peterson Impulse Collection – [Impulse, 1960s/Early 70s]

Pure Fire! - Gilles Peterson

There’s few people we’d trust more with our ears than Gilles Peterson — and once again, the man shows that our trust in him wasn’t misplaced! This time round, Gilles takes us on a heady trip through the hippest side of the Impulse Records label — the imprint that’s quite well known for its groundbreaking jazz of the 60s and 70s, but which is presented here with a special flair that’s really amazing! As usual, Peterson goes way past the obvious hits and classics, and digs even deeper into the many great albums issued by Impulse — all to find special tunes and wonderful tracks that might have slipped past us otherwise — put together with even greater care to assure a even-keeled mood throughout the entire set.