01.Mis Tres Notas02.Para Ella
03.Fragile
04.Twice As Sad
05.Gracias Señor
06.Para Dos Parados
07.Antes De Ir Va Esto
08.Tienes Un Solo
09.Raya
10.Shirma.
Omar Sosa (piano, percussion)
Maria Marquez (vocals)
Gerardo Cilvetti (violin, viola)
Daniel Khachatrian (cello)
Sheldon Brown (bass clarinet, tenor saxophone)
Geoff Brennan, Rahsaan Fredericks (double bass)
Elliot Kavee (drums)
Rattu Lama (tabla); Jesus Diaz (percussion).
Omar Sosa has gained fame for his stirring piano solos, his mastery of polyrhythms, and his willingness to add rap and hip-hop to his Afro-Cuban jazz music. Ballads is quite a bit different. Drawn from four of his CDs (Free Roots, Spirit of the Roots, Bembon, and Prietos), the previously released music is all taken at slow tempos. Most of the ten numbers are moody, a bit introspective, and thoughtful, although there is some heat to be experienced on a few performances. The personnel and instrumentation change from cut to cut, with Sheldon Brown's reeds (particularly on bass clarinet) being a major asset, María Márquez contributing a haunting vocal on "Fragile," and two strings being utilized on a pair of numbers. Throughout, Sosa sounds restrained but powerful, very much in control of this lyrical music. Although it only shows one side of him, Ballads serves as a solid introduction to Omar Sosa. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
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