Omar Puente

Robert Mitchell piano, Jimmy Martinez double bass, Michel Castallanos drums and Oscar Martinez congas World-renowned Cuban jazz violin maestro Omar Puente performs music From There to Here his new debut solo album which touches on musical influences including blues, funk and African rhythms. The album has been produced by Courtney Pine who described him as a complete classical virtuoso and a complete jazz master, and is timely released in the 50th anniversary year of the Cuban revolution.

In recent years Omar has toured with Denys Baptiste’s Let Freedom Ring project; he’s also a member of Courtney Pine’s touring band and is involved with the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. He says he is a classical musician whose heart beats with a Cuban rhythm, whose soul is African, and whose home is Yorkshire.

Omar made a guest appearance with Samay last autumn and wowed the NCEM audience.