Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Spanish Harlem Orchestra came together in 2000, guided by producer Aaron Luis Levinson and bandleader Oscar Hernandez, as a deliberate nod to the golden age of Latin jazz ensembles once led by figures like Tito Puente. Hernandez, long recognized as Rubén Blades’ pianist and musical director, had previously collaborated with artists ranging from Celia Cruz and Ray Barretto to Kirsty MacColl and Paul Simon; he also arranged and produced the music for Simon’s troubled Broadway venture The Capeman, which fused Latin elements into its score. Although personnel changes frequently, the core configuration usually features Hernandez at the piano, supported by one bassist, three drummers and percussionists, a front line of two trumpets, two trombones, and a single reed player handling both saxophone and flute, plus three male singers anchored by Ray de la Paz.

The group’s fusion of vintage salsa standards with fresh compositions first surfaced on the 2002 release Un Gran Dia en el Barrio. Festival appearances followed in 2003 at both the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival. Their next project, Across 110th Street—titled after the street marking Harlem’s southern edge—arrived in 2004 and included four tracks showcasing former employer Rubén Blades on vocals; the album earned a Grammy for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. United We Swing emerged in 2006 via the Six Degrees imprint and spotlighted a guest turn by Paul Simon. Four years afterward, Viva La Tradición surfaced on Concord Picante.