Album Notes

Synopsis of Carlos Perrote’s
“Omolewa Osain”

From the Heart of Belize City, by way of Santiago de Cuba, Perrote’s "Omolewa Osain” offers an array of danceable fusion tracks for the intellect as well as for the soul.
“Omolewa Osain (Powerful Mind) is a Yoruba phrase meaning "Powerful Mind".
The entire album acknowledges the common West African roots of Cuban (specifically Afro Cuban), Jazz and Garifuna
music largely through the use of 6/8 meter as heard in “Lamento Garifuna” and “Ayo Da”.

Perrote has created a Paranda original, “Homage to Andy” and has deftly rearranged three songs from Andy Palacio’s “Watina” album: Weyu Larigu Weyu”, “Miami”, and “Ayo Da”. The songs feature steel pans and jazz improvisations resulting in the realization of Andy’s vision for “Garifuna Jazz” -a term that Palacio coined.

Also on the album are songs rearranged and re-harmonized from the Cuban musical database (classic and modern) such as the Miguel Matamoros’ son montuno, ”Son de la Loma”. “Alemandra” is in the danzon musical genre. “ Del Tambor al Congo” is an acoustic medley of songs from the Afro Cuban tradition featuring a traditional Garifuna tune in the middle.

Of the twelve tracks, ten of them feature steel pans. Bata, Conga and Garifuna drums provide grooves drawing upon African rhythms from the continent and from the African diaspora. Jazz harmonies and improvisation appear throughout. These combinations result in a new genre– Cugazz-Cuba, Garifuna, Jazz.