Customer Reviews

United We Swing

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since their arrival in 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) has established itself as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Directed 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, SHO's third album, is a stunning 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, 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.

This is one of my favorites--of any genre. I accidentally found it by following a link on Napster Radio, and I've been listening to it almost every day since.

The guest appearance by Paul Simon is little more than a curiosity, in this case, but certainly not a distraction. The styles are wide and varied, from Salsa to Mambo to Jazz. The production values are the only thing that lets you know that this album was released in 2007, as the music defies a "time" of style.

I would recommend this album to any fan of Latin music, whether you are a beginner or have spent many years listening to the genre.

Excelente

El CD es evocador de muchos grandes grupos latinos de Nueva York en los días tempranos de Salsa. Los 3 cantantes son fantásticos y los componentes de la orchestra son muy tradicional. 3 trompetas, 2 trombones y un saxophone barítono componen la section de instrumentos de aire. El resto del grupo se compone de conga, bongos y timbales más un competente tocador del bajo y el líder extrordinario en piano. SHO tiene un sonido muy agradable, enfrentado por 3 vocalists. Tuve el placer de ver a SHO en vivo en la Universidad de Maryland ayer y fueron enérgtico en persona que en el álbum, que sí mismo es muy dinámico. Este es un tremendo CD para cualquiera que le guste la Salsa tradicional con excelente vocales.

Exhilarating

The CD is exhilarating and reminiscent of many great Latin groups from New York in the early days of Salsa. The 3 singers are fantastic and the orchestration is very traditional. 3 trumpets, 2 slide trombones and a baritone saxophone make up the "loud" section. The rest of the group is made up of 3 excellent percussionists (conga, bongos and timbales) plus a good base player and the leader on piano. Overall, SHO has a very nice, full and rich sound led by the 3 vocalists. I had the pleasure of seeing SHO live at the University of Maryland and they were even more energetic in person than on the album, which itself is very dynamic. This is a good CD for anyone to have in their collection if they enjoy older style salsa with excellent vocals.

United we swing, the most recent record of Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) it's not an easy cd. In fact, you have to listen, and listen and listen again to apreciate the richiest of each track. The sound be came really good track by track in progesive order.

With this CD, SHO shows us his musical and virtuosity complext of caribean rythms: from son montuno to salsa, from latin jazz to rumba and plena. This CD is like the good things, this is to enjoy.

A. Montalvo

Xalapa, Ver., Mexico

I first heard a cut from this cd on a local jazz station here in Sacramento. It took me back to the 60's and 70's in New York listening and dancing to the salsa of that time. I purchased the cd and loving every minute of it. This is a must have for anyone who loves salsa and like dancing. I can't wait for there next effort.

salud