SOULARE featuring Omar Alexander
(ESTAMOS UNIDOS!!!)
N ew York City is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the world a Babel of languages, cuisines and cultures sprawling between the East River and the West Side Highway to the Village underground and the cultural mix of Washington Heights - all the way across the Manhattan metropolis and its surrounding 4 boroughs. Its multi-ethnic stew makes it the perfect place to sample the latest sabor to bubble up from New Yorks always-simmering musical melting pot. New York native Omar Alexander, backed by SOULARE, is perfectly poised to serve up a tasty musical masala of next-generation Latin Soul (with a dash of jazz and a pinch of funk) that nourishes both the body and soul.
B orn on New York soil to a Colombian mother and an East Indian father, raised in Florida, only to come full circle and return to New York, Alexander embodies the fluid cultural mix of contemporary America and manages to translate that same mestisaze in his music, which marries a smart, alt-Latin sensibility to no nonsense booty-shaking funk. SOULARES sound is a driving, percussive mash--up of sultry guitars, propulsive drumming, and tighter-than-tight horns that come together to ignite dance floors and bedrooms alike.
I f you can imagine a descarga session with Seal, Stevie Wonder, Gypsy Kings, Terence Trent DArby, Santana and Arturo Sandoval all sitting in, youre halfway there. If you can imagine Rock with a hint of Indian ragas mixed with the hip-swaying rhythms of salsa and Colombian reggae, then youve got a small taste of what this combo is capable of.
B ut if Alexander is the avatar of this spirited music, channeling the vibes of his musical ancestors, SOULARE is the secret weapon: a talented multinational crew whos experiences and backgrounds are as diverse as New York itself. Albert Leusink (trumpet) brings European cool straight from the Netherlands, and Israeli virtuosi Shlomo Cohen (saxophone/ flute/ backing vocals) and Eran Asias (drums) blend technical mastery with Middle Eastern soul. While New York Citys own Oscar Bautista (guitar) and Antonio Rodriguez (percussion/ backing vocals) keep the uptown Latin flavor authentic, Rich Chapple (bass) and Benny Harrison (keyboards/ backing vocals) add just the right mix of jazz and R&B to keep things interesting. Omar Alexanders soulful, bilingual vocals pack a punch in both Spanish and English.
I ndividually, members of SOULARE have shared stages and studios with a host of rock, jazz, Latin and R&B greats, including: Maceo Parker, Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Jose Alberto El Canario, Norah Jones, Jorge Moreno, Groove Collective, Alejandro Fernandez, DLG, Will Lee, Frankie Negron, Bobby Sanabria, Gerardo Velez (Chic, Spyro Gyra, The Band of Gypsies), Victor Manuelle, Tito Rojas, La India, Gloria Estefan and Antibalas.
S ince forming in March, 2003 SOULARE featuring Omar Alexander have been selected by the Recording Academy to perform for the 4th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party; and has been covered by outlets including CBS, Telemundo/NBC, Urban Latino, Time Out New York, Latino Mix and Radio WADO.
A s a solo artist, Omar Alexander has made several national appearances and performed for sporting events and on the CBS Primetime Reality Show, Cupid (Abandona el Amor). His original songs have also been featured on ABC/Disneys Knock First (Are you Listening), January 2004. Omars songs, Front to Back, Bangin, and October through December were placed in the film soundtrack and the 2004 film, Flavors. In August 2004, the band was invited and performed for former U.S. Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo and President George H.W. Bush.
