Pianist / percussionist Omar Sosa has always wanted to work with a big band, because he was impressed by the massive, but also majestic sound. That day came when he was approached by Stefan Gerdes of the Nord Deutsche Rundfunk who wanted to have Sosa's music performed by a big band. Arranger / cellist Jacques Morelenbaum took care of ten pieces by Sosa and arranged them for the NDR Bigband. As is
… often the case with Sosa, this time also a musical journey begins, starting in West Africa, via Cuba to Thelonious Monks New York. At first, the NDRBB seems like a relentless steamroller to crush every kind of subtlety, but after three of these devastating pieces they seem to have found their way and form a perfect union with Sosa's band. Ceremony definitely doesn't sound like the big bands of Machito and Chico O'Farrill, of whom Sosa is a great admirer, but it opens up a completely new perspective in the combination big band vs. South American rhythm combo. (AD)more