Free as a Bird

Review

"I've been listening to Omar's Flights of Mystery this afternoon...This is the "real music" I've grown to love." -- - Liz Doan, Senior Music Buyer, Music Design

..."this set bears repeated listening for hours of carefree satisfaction." -- Ted Cox, New Age Retailer

...a New Age-Smooth Jazz merger creating music that is immediately accessible...nothing short of breath-taking. -- Michael Debbage, Wind and Wire

...it's records like this that make a label a cultural touchstone. That's how good and powerful it is... -- ~ Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher, Midwest Record Recap

...lush backdrops of pan-ethnic instrumentation, synthesized orchestral swirls and percolating Latin-based percussion. -- ~Dan Cowan, Music Design

I've been listening to your CD Free as a Bird and it is beautiful! -- Jennifer Read Hawthorne, Speaker & Author, Chicken Soup for the Soul

Omar is...a compelling melodist; a setter of beautiful moods, exotic free-spirited feelings and a disciplined romantic. -- - Paula Edelstein is a music journalist and regular contributor to All Music Guide, Sounds of Timeless Jazz, Jazz USA, and All About Jazz.

Omar is...poised to break into the elite upper echelon of artists with "Free as a Bird" -- - Ted Cox, New Age Retailer

Omar's Free as a Bird is a sparkling follow-up that is bursting with joy and smoldering passion. -- - Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications

Product Description

Poised to break into the elite upper echelon of contemporary instrumental artist with FREE AS a BIRD, Omar has created music laden with rich influences from his travels worldwide. Sumptuous romantic melodies, worldly textures and exotic rhtyms, this album bears repeated listening for hours of carefree satisfaction - Ted Cox, New Age Retailer.

From the Artist

"Joining Omar on his sensational second album are great musicians Charlie Bisharat, soulful and passionate violinist and a mainstay on John Tesh’s recordings and tours; Gregg Karukas, known to millions of listeners of jazz recordings and smooth jazz radio, on keyboard as well as drum and percussion programming; David Dial plays romantic synthesizers, Ramon Stagnaro picks an evocative Spanish guitar and Pedro Eustache floats on flute. A guest spot by the Rippingtons’ Eric Marienthal and his saxophone top off the album...(from a review by Ted Cox, New Age Retailer)

About the Artist

The new age music family is about to receive a wake up call, and his name is Omar. Challenging the notion that New Age is best suited for elevators and long naps, this multicultural prodigy gives the genre a fresh beat. "People who don’t understand new age sometimes complain that it all sounds the same," opined Omar from his comfortable L.A. apartment. "Real new age fans appreciate the artistry of people like Yanni and Kitaro, but a lot of people haven’t developed a taste for it yet. That’s where I hope to come in."
While Omar is a classically trained pianist, he has a gift for composing intriguing melodies that dance in your head long after the music has stopped. The son of a U.N. diplomat, Omar has spent decades living around the globe, soaking up musical influences from far flung locales such as Afghanistan, Cuba, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. These exotic flavors are mixed together brilliantly on songs like "Gypsy Woman", which deftly merges hauntingly familiar European melodies with aggressive Latin rhythms and challenges you not to tap your feet. "I want my music to bring my experiences around the world to life," beamed Omar, "and that’s the inspiration that gives my music its energy."
Omar’s debut album Opal Fire is not without its soothing moments. Songs like "Innocence Lost" and "Last Dance" are remarkable for their ability to evoke an emotional response in a beautifully serene context. But international influences like Jean Michel Jarre (France), Kitaro (Japan), Vangelis (Greece) and, surprisingly, Prince! "I know it may sound crazy for a New Age artist, but I really admire Prince " Omar smiled. "In his best moments, his songs are filled with drama, whether it’s the opening chords of ‘1999’ or the structure of songs like ‘Raspberry Beret’ or ‘Adore’. I like music pieces that have a dramatic introduction – a beginning, a middle and an end, just like a great movie or story."
Omar best illustrates his flair for the dramatic on his standout piece "Waves of Emotion". What begins as a beautiful solo piano performance gradually builds with layers of progressively powerful orchestration until the song reaches an emotional climax. Unexpectedly, a bass line and percussion track emerge from the passionate afterglow, as Omar’s performance on piano and synthesizer soar above the arrangement. "It’s amazing what you can do with computers and synthesizers today," remarked Omar, "you can virtually create an orchestra. But when you hear my piano, there’s nothing automated, that’s all me." In fact, Omar considers his virtuoso talent to be something of a secret weapon in t, ISBN13:B0001XAMT0 ISBN10:B0001XAMT0 Material Type:audioCD