Spanish Harlem Orchestra Showcase Latin Prowess With ‘The Latin Jazz Project’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

After flashing glimpses of their Latin Jazz prowess over the course of their previous six recordings, the 17 years running Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) goes full boat on The Latin Jazz Project, remarkably their first full-length Latin jazz release, especially considering that almost any measure they are today’s top salsa band. That’s the fine difference, SHO has garnered their Grammy Awards in the Tropical Latin category. A litany of top-tier jazz artists join the ensemble as featured guests soloists: Kurt Elling, Miguel Zenon, Tom Harrell, Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Joe Locke, and others on this fan-funded project through ArtistShare. 

They have performed on the world’s top stages and at nearly every major jazz festival including those in Newport, Montreal, and Monterey. This writer caught their set at Newport Jazz last year and was among the many smiling members of the audience on the side of the stage, uplifted by their galvanizing show. In these kinds of live performances, SHO has successfully built a bridge between Latin and jazz music, evidenced by their countless standing ovations. The Latin Jazz Project builds upon that legacy and brings SHO full circle into the Latin jazz arena. 

It’s a seamlessly natural progression. To begin with, SHO Artistic Director Oscar Hernández is considered one of the most important Latin jazz pianists of his generation. His storied career extends back four decades and includes performances and recordings with an impressive list of Latin music greats including Tito Puente, Machito, Celia Cruz, Conjunto Libre, and Willie Colon, among others. Hernández spent six years playing with Ray Barreto and appeared on five of his recordings including the seminal Rican/Struction. Hernández then went on to join Ruben Blades’ Seis Del Solar band and eventually became his Musical Director, charting the musical course for the salsa legend. Hernández soon became the Musical Director for Paul Simon as well as the orchestrator and arranger for Gloria Estefan. As a leader, Hernández has released two Latin jazz albums with Origin records: The Art of Latin Jazz (2017) and Love The Moment (2019), which went on to receive four stars by Downbeat Magazine and was also covered on these pages by yours truly.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra has long collaborated with jazz greats; in 2015, Chick Corea and Joe Lovano appeared on their self-titled release and last year’s Anniversary featured a guest appearance by Randy Brecker. The tradition continues on The Latin Jazz Project, which features an impressive cadre of jazz elite including saxophonist Miguel Zenon and vocalist Kurt Elling (“Invitation”), saxophonist Bob Mintzer (“Bobo”), saxophonist Bob Franceschini (“Acid Rain”), trumpeter Tom Harrell (“Los Palmas”), bassist  Jimmy Haslip and soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman (“Silent Prayers”). Trumpeter Jonathan Powell (“Round Midnight”), trumpeter Michael Rodrigeuz (“Fort Apache”), and vibraphonist Joe Locke (“Latin Perspective”). Renowned SHO flutist Jeremy Bosch is also featuring on “Latin Perspective”. Each has a chance to shine soloing, but the fit is so strong, it seems as if they’ve just stepped out of the ensemble.  Locke and Hernandez engage in dialogue on “Joe and Oscar” and the SHO play the opening and final tracks without featured guests.

The Latin Jazz Project presents a new side to Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Co-producer and trombonist Doug Beavers says: “…we really wanted to present SHO in a different light with this project- that of a world-class ensemble that can go toe-to-toe with any renowned jazz ensemble or jazz orchestra in the world.  For this, we thought the vehicle of Latin Jazz gave us the best medium to explore how different jazz masters would mesh with the orchestra and explore the idiom. The results came out very natural sounding and exciting, as if these jazz greats had been performing with SHO for years.”  

This is the SHO’s seventh release, having achieved five GRAMMY® nominations and three wins (in 2004 for sophomore album Across 110th Street, in 2010 for Viva La Tradicion, and as noted, last year for Anniversary. With this star power and the SHO’s momentum with the GRAMMY® voters, another could be in the wings.