Imágenes Latinas
Oviation, 2022
8/10
A New York City outfit spearheaded by the pianist and composer Oscar Hernández, Spanish Harlem Orchestra incorporate plenty of Latin influences into their formula that welcomes bongos, congas, coro, timbales and plenty of other noisemakers.
“Llegó La Hispánica” starts the listen with bright horns, frisky drumming and vocals from Marco Bermudez and Carlos Cascante for the upbeat and festive climate, and the title track follows with a precisely textured display that can be cautious but also playful in the very capable hands of the many musicians.
Further along, “Romance Divino” uses Hernández’s sublime piano amid the soulful brass and cultured percussive sounds, while “Como Te Amo” injects dreamy flute into the vocally harmonic and very warm spirit.
Arriving near the end, “Mi Amor Sincero” offers a poetic and very expressive formula of timeless Latin jazz that will get your body moving, and “La Música Latina” exits with no lack of rhythm and energy that’s as infectious as it is memorable.
Not so surprisingly, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra have won 3 Grammy Awards, and this very adaptable and authentic listen will certainly please longtime fans and make plenty of new ones.
Travels well with: Luis Deniz- El Tinajon; Somi- Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba