Omar Puente
+ DJ Dr Jim
Tickets £12.50 in advance + booking fee. £15 on door.
Doors open 7pm. DJ Dr Jim playing the best in Cuban and Jazz until Omar and band play at 9pm.
"Virtuoso Cuban violinist Puente has been a scorchingly passionate presence with the likes of Courtney Pine, Juliet Kelly and Robert Mitchell in the recent past. Here he lets the full range of his considerable virtuosity loose." Time Out
Mesmerising electric violinist Puente mixes a boundless classical technique with Caribbean heart and soul and fiery jazz-informed improvisation. Omar Puente has been an inspiring, creative presence in the UK Latin and Jazz worlds for the last ten years since his arrival from Cuba.
In Santiago and then Havana, Omar had honed his skills outside the Casa de la Trova and inside the Conservatory, learning from great classical Russian teachers as well as the likes of Chucho Valdes, Ruben Gonzales and Arturo Sandoval. In a uniquely Cuban way he became first violin in the National Symphony Orchestra whilst holding down parallel recording gigs with Silvio Rodriguez, Pablo Milanes, Orquesta Reve and other Cuban musical saints.
Arriving in England into a Bradford winter a dozen years ago and starting out again, now, at last his talents get the spotlight here that they so richly deserve with the launch of his debut album From There To Here on Courtney Pine’s Destin-E label and this special show in the London Jazz Festival.
"If some of the Bolivar players seemed a shade self-conscious at first, Puente’s charismatic presence drew them out of their shell. Later, switching to electric violin, he cut a dashing path through his own composition, My Mrs." The Times on Omar’s joyous collaboration with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela at the Royal Festival Hall this April.
Omar Puente – violin
Robert Mitchell – piano
Jimmy Martinez – bass
Michel Castellanos – drums
Oscar Martinez – percussion