| Latin Jazz |
The end of August will be Latino or it won’t be! That’s what we can see with the best of what the Latino world has to offer, such as the splendid Spanish Harlem Orchestra, stylish, swinging, singing like nightingales that have rediscovered the path to spring, and dancing as much as you’d wish! Of course, that is if you know the steps to these captivating dances… which we call Salsa! The Spanish Harlem Orchestra is made up of 13 excellent musicians, whom you can discover here.
*Swing Forever* consists of eleven tracks that showcase the top-tier salsa dura sound for which the Spanish Harlem Orchestra is universally known and loved. One of the album’s highlights is a special collaboration with Puerto Rican sonero Gilberto Santa Rosa. A six-time GRAMMY Award winner, Gilberto Santa Rosa is regarded as one of the most influential soneros of his generation and has contributed to numerous essential recordings in Latin music over the past forty years. On *Swing Forever*, Hernández wanted to include this great singer and thus arranged the album’s centerpiece, “Llego El Caballero,” with him in mind. On this track, Santa Rosa’s poetic artistry shines especially bright. As you can see, we are in the hands of experts in the field of Salsa, and from the first track of this album, you’ll be blown away; it’s hard to resist dancing, though a challenge for writing this review…
With particularly modern arrangements that at times border on high-quality pop music, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra offers some uncertain yet oh-so-fun tracks, like this one, *Anhele en la Lluvia*. Naturally, when it comes to the lyrics, Latinos will probably be better served than little Europeans like me who don’t understand a word of Spanish, but it doesn’t matter when the music is good… Produced and designed by Hernández and co-produced by GRAMMY-nominated Doug Beavers, *Swing Forever* continues the legacy of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, which boasts five GRAMMY nominations and three wins. The album highlights their consistent journey, with exciting horns and lively percussion bringing their music to life. The group has performed on prestigious stages around the world, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, and the Newport, North Sea, and Monterey jazz festivals.
This is music that you listen to with your heart; you can’t help but admire the beautiful rhythm section and the brass that even Earth, Wind & Fire would love for their precision and power. Such an album can also teach us a lot about Cuban musical culture, which is increasingly present (and it’s a real joy) in jazz. *Swing Forever* stays true to its ethos, honoring the great tradition of salsa with deep respect and reverence. One of the most important figures in this music is undoubtedly Ray Barretto, with whom Hernández has a rich history dating back to Barretto’s iconic 1979 recording *Rican Struction*. During his formative years as a pianist and arranger on the New York salsa scene, Hernández received invaluable mentorship from this legendary bandleader and percussionist.
As the last backyard barbecues are being held before the arrival of autumn, here you will find the perfect accompaniment for your evenings, keeping a smile on your face all night long. It’s with great respect that we include this album in our “Essentials.”
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 28th 2024
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