Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita SUBA Trio: Tiny Desk Concert

Felix Contreras | July 5, 2023
We've had hundreds of different voices and instruments behind the Tiny Desk over the years, but to my ears the performance that featured Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita sounded as if it was dropped directly from the heavens of musical compatibility right into our laps.

From the very start of "Allah Léno," the notes began to sprinkle down like soft snowflakes from Sosa's piano and Keita's magnificent 24-string West African kora, while percussionist Gustavo Ovalles' tasteful drumming percolated beneath the interplay of Sosa and Keita. Proving once again that the Tiny Desk space is sacred ground for musical inspiration, barely four minutes in, Keita ended an inspired run with a huge smile acknowledged by his bandmates as well as those lucky enough to be in the NPR Music offices that day.

The title of the second song "Kharit" means "friendship" in the Senegalese language wolof and it starts with Ovalles' spellbinding, rhythmic work with traditional Venezuelan maracas. It starts at a relaxed pace but picks up speed with intuitive interaction between Sosa and Keita.

The last song "Maam" is devoted to "all mothers," a sentiment that cuts across borders. This is truly an international band with Sosa hailing from Cuba, Keita from Senegal and Ovalles from Venezuela and the song titles are a mix of Arabic and west African wolof. And for about twenty, glorious minutes, the Tiny Desk was a weigh station along an ancient musical route connecting our imaginations with the vision of a truly remarkable trio.

SET LIST
"Allah Léno"
"Kharit"
"Maam"

MUSICIANS
Omar Sosa: piano
Seckou Keita: kora
Gustavo Ovalles: percussion

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Felix Contreras
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel
Audio Assistant: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #seckoukeita #omarsosa

[vanessaseymour]

This is why I love Tiny Desk. It doesn't matter what type of music genre they present, I find it all highly enjoyable. The sound from this group is so meditative.

[free]

The kora's sound is one one the purest sounds ever. So soothing.

[TrueYarn]

Being African or black comes with a lot struggles but I won’t change it for the life of me. Despite the odds, we are a vibe ✊🏿🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭👏🏿👏🏿🏃🏿🙏🏿

[Avahhhhh]

I'm Mandinka plus I speak Wollof (with English) on a daily, so this is doing my heart something ❤💯

[MariaClara-bqgx]

Dubai, 8am. My morning ritual: coffee and music... but today was different. It was music that took me far away. I'm from South America, I lived in the Caribbean and my life journey took me to the middle east. This music had everything I have been exposed during all these years, it tasted fresh, melancholic and vibrant at the same time.... It moved me to the point that I cried, beautiful! What else can makes us feel all this than love and good music, and that's what this amazing trio is: love+music!
Thanks for sharing all of this with us.... now I'm ready to start my day 🧡🎶🙏🏼

[byBrieMoore]

I love being introduced to artists while they're performing live. This is a beautiful concert. It's funny the first song is about traveling, because the whole set transports you. Time to listen again!

[yanique]

The combination of instruments and cultures and energies - Cuban, African is heart-warming and comforting. Our ancestors are smiling, and saying "yes"!. Thank you all for sharing your phenomenal talents. Thanks for this tribute to mothers and grandmothers. We appreciate it.

[itssawida]

!When Fatoumata Diawara performed a home concert last year, I thought it could get no better, but now to have Sekou and Omar?! I just love the vast demonstration of music appreciation that the Tiny Desk team has! It would absolutely warm my heart if you invited Sona Jobarteh to perform! Thank you for bringing Kora and other traditional African musicians/instrumentalists to this stage!

[MeMe-wvhu]

huge props to Gustavo Ovalles!! His rhythms are such important parts of the songs!

[astrebadi]

When sometimes I wake up in the morning, and feel low I listen to this music then I feel alive. 🙏🏾 Thank You 🙏🏾

[captikus]

Possibly my favourite Tiny Desk concert yet, there is so much of beauty, wisdom and joy in the interplay of these three musicians and cultures. Whenever I watch this set, I always end up feeling that the world is a better place than I thought it was before I started watching.

[itsasamorse]

Senegalese music is romantic, entrancing, and spiritual all at the same time. This was wonderful!

[BenPyman]

What a lovely set! Here are the timestamps:
0:00 Allah Léno
7:02 Kharit
14:05 Maam

[bp-cw]

I love Tiny Desk!! I am constantly being exposed to different genres of music. It's an expansive education for the mind, body and soul! Thank you.

[ghostdog_ninja]

Thanks for your diversity in ALL prospects!!! NPR shows how it should be! <3 Love from Vienna!

[itssilentinthestudio]

This group deserves every success and more.

[John.Christopher]

Some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard

[verbenacummings]

This is a beautiful concert. It should also have been in Black music month. Music is awesome.

[MalincheNahual]

Memories of late 90s California, dancing away the beauty and youthful years in happiness and harmony with a multicultural family of friends of the world! ❤🎉🎉🙏

[zahrahawaleh]

All three performers have African heritage and it shows in their music. They clearly love playing together. So delicate and magical ❤