Omar Sosa - Sentir (2002) CD-Rip

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."