SUBA Trio brings their joyous songs and soulful music to Vancouver
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts presents Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita SUBA Trio, March 13 at 7:30pm on the Chan Shun Concert Hall stage. SUBA Trio is a collaboration between four-time Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita, featuring Afro-Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles. The uplifting live performance will feature music from their recent album, SUBA, along with improvisations and explorations of their shared musical roots.
“We’re thrilled to be able to introduce Vancouver audiences to the talents of SUBA Trio,” says Jarrett Martineau, Head Curator, the Chan Centre. “Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita, and Gustavo Ovalles each bring extraordinary artistry and deep cultural roots to the stage. Through their spontaneous musical conversations and shared ancestral connections, they create innovative and moving live performances that meaningfully connect with audiences. Their music is a true cross-cultural exchange and a testament to what can be achieved through open collaboration.”
Written and recorded in 2020 during the global lockdown, SUBA, meaning ‘sunrise’ in Mandinka, Seckou’s native language, is a hymn to hope, to a new dawn of compassion and real change, and a visceral reiteration of humanity’s prayer for peace and unity. Most of the core material for the album was written in isolation, then brought together in Menorca into a unique fusion of genres.
Thanks to the chemistry between Sosa’s elegant ‘minimalismo’ jazz piano, Keita’s soulful vocals and masterful kora playing, and Ovalles’ vibrant percussion, SUBA “sounds like a serene sunset in the Sahel desert, with sparkling stars, spacious horizons, and wondrous panoramas” (Jazz Weekly).
Blending jazz with his Afro-Cuban roots, pianist and composer Omar Sosa is nothing less than a powerhouse. He has released more than 30 albums and received a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian Associates in Washington, D.C. for his contributions to the development of Latin jazz in the United States. In 2025, he released a new solo piano album called Senda.
Seckou Keita, a descendant of West African traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers, is one of the most celebrated kora players in the world – renowned for his delicate and hypnotic playing. In 2019, he was recognized as BBC Radio 2’s “Folk Musician of the Year”.
Venezuelan percussionist and teacher Gustavo Ovalles has mastered numerous techniques, musical styles, and dances. Lauded for his commitment and skill with traditional Venezuelan instruments, coupled with his sensitivity and creativity, Ovalles stands out as an exceptional musician. His projects have taken him to jazz festivals worldwide, including the North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), the St. Louis Jazz Festival (Senegal), and the Martinique Jazz Festival.
Following the Vancouver performance, the trio will perform in Calgary, on March 15, as part of an ongoing tour.
Dates: March 13, 2026 at 7:30pm
Ticket Prices: From $49-$99 / Indigenous Pricing: $30 / Student Pricing: $30
Venue: Chan Shun Concert Hall Chan Centre for the Performing Arts 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
For tickets and further information, visit: chancentre.com
About the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (chancentre.com)
Since 1997, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts has earned international acclaim for its striking architecture, world-class acoustics, and exceptional programming, ranking it among North America’s premier performing arts venues. As a cultural cornerstone in Canada, the Chan Centre has championed Canadian talent and curated diverse international lineups alongside its annual Indigenous festival, ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl (Come Toward the Fire), produced in partnership with Musqueam. Located at the heart of UBC, it serves as a vibrant platform for creative exchange, fresh perspectives, and unforgettable cultural experiences. Previously programmed luminaries include Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Anoushka Shankar, Ray Chen, Jeremy Dutcher, Rhiannon Giddens, and Samin Nosrat.