Since 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra have established themselves as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Lead 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. United We Swing, is the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s third album, is a follow-up to their 2004 Grammy award-winning album Across 110th St., and their 2002 Grammy nominated debut, Un Gran Día En El Barrio.
On United We Swing, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra continues in the same classic-meets-contemporary sound, but with refreshing originality. Nine of the songs are original compositions grounded in the unique identity the band has forged based on the musical legacy of El Barrio, a pulsating Eastside community in NYC located to the south of 125th St that gave rise to Boogaloo, Latin Soul, and Salsa.
Spanish Harlem Orchestra pays tribute to the legacy of Manhattans Palladium Ballroom, "the home of the mambo," with "En El Tiempo Del Palladium" (In The Times of The Palladium), that catered to Mambo dancers and featured the bands of the BIG-3: Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito. Tipica 73 icon, Sonny Bravo, arranged the Willie Tórres tune, "Se Forma La Rumba" (The Rumba Has Begun). Oscar advises "Sácala Bailar" (Take Her Dancing) and leads into the classic 1970s Fania-era hit, "Ahora Sí" (Now's The Time).
The rest of the album will satisfy Salsa lovers with "Que Bonito" (How Lovely) and "Salsa Pa'l Bailador" (Salsa For Dancers). The Joe Cuba cha-cha-cha, "Mujer Divina" (Divine Lady), is done in doo-wop three-part vocal harmony. "Soy Candela" (I Am Fire) keeps the pace burning and segues into a smoking "Plena Con Sabor" (Tasty Plena). "Danzón For My Father" is a piece originally recorded by Dave Valentin that Oscar composed as a tribute to his dad, Emilio Hernández.
Saving a surprise for the finale is always a great way to end a party and Oscar Hernández and SHO certainly do that with special guest Paul Simon. "Late In The Evening/Tarde En La Noche" is a reconfiguration of a Simon Top Ten hit from his 1980 One-Trick Pony album. Hernández, who collaborated with Simon on his Broadway musical, "Cape Man," arranged the piece with Simon singing the classic refrains.
From their 2002 debut album, Un Gran Día En El Barrio, SHO revived the classic 1970 NYC sounds with a new hard hitting point-of-view. Fueled by great singers Frankie Vasquez, Herman Olivera, Ray De La Paz and special guest Jimmy Sabater, the songs were hot and included back-in-the-day hits like Tito Rodriguez's "Mama Guela," Willie Colon's "La Banda," and others. 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, singers Marco Bermudez, Willie Torres, Ray De La Paz 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."
Today, United We Swing, places 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 as described in Piri Thomas' book, "Down These Mean Streets," that in the midst of social despair has given the world unique Caribbean musical mixturs.
Here’a list of their upcoming tour dates:
March 30 - San Juan, Puerto Rico @ Hiram Bithorn Stadium
April 1 - Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Havey Theater
April 12 - Dublin, Ireland @ National Concert Hall
April 14 - Cork, Ireland @ Cork Opera House
April 16 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
April 21 - Dusseldorf, Germany @ Tonhalle Dusseldorf
April 23 - Munich, Germany @ Philharmonic
April 24 - Frankfurt, Germany @ Alte Oper
April 25 - London, UK @ Jazz Cafe London
April 26 - London, UK @ Jazz Cafe London
May 1 - San Antonio, TX @ Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
May 2 - Houston, TX @ Miller Outdoor Theatre
May 4 - College Park, MD @ Ina and Jack Kay Theatre - Clarice Smith PAC
July 12 - San Juan, Puerto Rico @ The Arena Pier Ten
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