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Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Since their arrival in 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) has established itself as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Directed by world-renowned pianist, arranger, and producer Oscar Hernández, the thirteen-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic sounds of New York City Salsa to music lovers worldwide.

Now in its tenth year, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of the most formidable and authentic Latin jazz combos of today. Yet for all of its appeal with contemporary audiences, the group’s success is actually rooted in the past. A lively and energetic affair, their 2010 release “Viva la Tradición” draws on inspiration from the music’s history and enduring traditions.

From their 2002 debut album, “Un Gran Dia En El Barrio,” SHO revived the classic 1970 NYC sounds with a new hard hitting point-of-view. It launched the band and garnered them a 2003 Grammy nomination for “Best Salsa Album” and a Latin Billboard Award for Salsa Album of the Year-Best New Group.

On their 2004 follow-up, “Across 110th St.,” the Spanish Harlem Orchestra was augmented by the roaring trombones of Jimmy Bosch and Dan Reagan, and special guest Ruben Blades, who Hernández worked for in the 1990s as his musical director. It was slamming and garnered the group its first Grammy Award in 2005 for “Best Salsa Album.”

In 2007 “United We Swing,” placed Spanish Harlem Orchestra among Latin music’s greatest bands by paying due to a neighborhood romanticized in Leonard Bernstein’s “Westside Story” and Ben E. King’s, “A Rose in Spanish Harlem.” El Barrio is a hard urban incubator, which in the midst of social despair has given the world unique Caribbean musical mixtures.

Continuing their commitment to the authenticity of the music, “Viva la Tradición” is very much a nod to the countless artists who helped usher salsa music into the cultural mainstream several decades ago. “Preserving that legacy and introducing it to new audiences in a new century,” says Hernandez, “is more important than being the musical flavor of the month.” Source: James Nadal

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Album Review

Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Imagenes Latinas

Read "Imagenes Latinas" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


L'ottavo album della Spanish Harlem Orchestra celebra il secondo decennio della formazione e colleziona un'altra nomination al Grammy, dopo averne vinti tre. Guidata dal pianista e compositore Oscar Hernández, la big band è una delle voci più acclamate del latin jazz, e si pone sulla scia dei leggendari Manny Oquendo, Barry Rogers, Andy e Jerry Gonzalez alla cui memoria il disco è dedicato. L'impronta stilistica della Spanish Harlem è ovviamente legata alla quarantennale storia musicale del leader, formatosi ...

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Album Review

Spanish Harlem Orchestra: The Latin Jazz Project

Read "The Latin Jazz Project" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


When last heard from, the salsa powerhouse Spanish Harlem Orchestra was celebrating fifteen years of playing together with Anniversary (ArtistShare, 2018). There have always been elements of Latin jazz in the group's music, and Artistic Director Oscar Hernández is a noted Latin jazz pianist, so it was only a matter of time until they presented a full program of it. In addition to his arrangements, Hernández contributed several compositions, and is a prominent soloist. The band contains some ...

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Album Review

Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Anniversary

Read "Anniversary" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


The 13-piece all-star salsa big band Spanish Harlem Orchestra celebrates their 15-year anniversary in grand style with Anniversary, their sixth studio album. Champions of salsa dura ("hard salsa"), this is a band whose technical skill is matched only by their consistent high energy. They have three lead vocalists, so the chorus singing is also very high quality--an essential part of a strong salsa performance. Opener “Esa Nena" is a fine introduction to the group's body-shaking groove, and the program rarely ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Freddy Cole & Harry Allen, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Kirk Whalum, Chris Corsano & Darin Gray, and more

Jazz this week: Freddy Cole & Harry Allen, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Kirk Whalum, Chris Corsano & Darin Gray, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's calendar of jazz and creative music in St. Louis features lots more holiday-themed programming, with Christmas shows from two touring headliners and several local performers, plus at least a few shows that may not contain any seasonal music. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, December 6 Singer and pianist Freddy Cole and his frequent collaborator/guest star, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, make their return for the first of four nights at Jazz at the Bistro. The brother of the ...

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Meet the Spanish Harlem Orchestra

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Meet the Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, StLJN's video spotlight shines on the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, an NYC-based ensemble that will bring their show “Salsa Navidad" to St. Louis next Friday, December 8 at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Bandleader Oscar Hernández is well known in New York City Latin music circles, with a long list of credits including performing with salsa greats such as Tito Puente and Celia Cruz during the 1970s, serving as pianist and arranger for singer Rubén Blades in the 1980s, and ...

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Performance / Tour

Oleta Adams, Spanish Harlem Orchestra Perform at Steppin out for Dimock Fundraiser on October 29 in Boston

Oleta Adams, Spanish Harlem Orchestra Perform at Steppin out for Dimock Fundraiser on October 29 in Boston

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts

Jazz and gospel stars Oleta Adams, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the Harlem Gospel Choir and Henry Butler are just some of the performers at the 24th annual Steppin out for Dimock charity event, taking place at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston on Saturday, October 29, 2011. The annual event raises funds for the Dimock Center, which provides quality health care and human services to a variety of constituents in Boston's neighborhoods. The event takes place from 8:00 p.m to ...

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Festival

18th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival: Holly Cole, Lafayette Gilchrist and Spanish Harlem Orchestra

18th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival: Holly Cole, Lafayette Gilchrist and Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Source: All About Jazz

Arlington, Va - Praised among our region's standout jazz festivals by JazzTimes magazine, the 18th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday (12:30pm - 7:00pm), September 6, 2008, at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Hwy (N. Lynn St. & Lee Hwy), in Arlington, Virginia (just across Key Bridge from Georgetown, 2 blocks from Rosslyn Metro Station). The event features yet another powerful lineup, including versatile vocalist Holly Cole - Canada's 2008 Juno Awardee for “Best Jazz Album"; Grammy Award-winning Salsa ...

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Performance / Tour

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at NYC's Town Hall on April 15 at 8:00 pm

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at NYC's Town Hall on April 15 at 8:00 pm

Source: All About Jazz

The Town Hall is proud to present the SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA on Friday, April 15 at 8:00 pm. These guys are HOT HOT HOT! Want proof? They just won the 2005 Grammy for Best Salsa Album of the Year for their recent release “Across 110th Street" featuring Ruben Blades. They also won the 2003 Latin Billboard Award for Salsa Album of the Year-Best New Group, so they've come a long way in a short time! All veteran musicians from NYC's ...

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Performance / Tour

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at NYC's Town Hall on April 15 at 8:00 pm

Spanish Harlem Orchestra at NYC's Town Hall on April 15 at 8:00 pm

Source: All About Jazz

These guys just won the Grammy for Best Salsa Album of the Year for their release Across 110th Street! This hot dance band is led by world famous pianist and arranger Oscar Hernandez. The band also boasts outstanding performances by singers Ray De La Paz, Marco Bermudez and Willie Torres and musicians Maximo Rodriguez, John Walsh, Pete Nadler, Mitch Frohman, Jimmy Bosch, Dan Reagan, Pablo “Chino" Nunez, Bobby Allende and Jorge Gonzalez. This orchestra is the long overdue missing link ...

Sixth Street All Stars
band / ensemble / orchestra

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Concerts

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Anniversary

ArtistShare
2018

buy

Viva La Tradicion

Knitting Factory Works
2010

buy

Tambori / La Banda

Knitting Factory Works
2002

buy

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