For those unaware, within the vast landscape of Latin music in New York City, few ensembles have had such a magnificent impact as the 3x GRAMMY®-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO).

Founded by pianist and composer Oscar Hernández two decades ago, the mission statement of SHO is to honor the tradition of great Latin music, and to continue their work as “the leading light of the salsa reconstruction movement” (Newsday).

On Imágenes Latinas, their eighth release due out May 20th, 2022, SHO stays true to their purpose. The first Spanish Harlem Orchestra release on Hernández’s own imprint, Ovation Records, the roll-out of Imágenes Latinas features a fan-funded model that allows fans to pledge different levels of monetary support for an assortment of exciting benefits, from an advance copy of the album to an executive producer credit.

1. Llegó La Hispanica
2. Imágenes Latinas
3. Vestido De Flores
4. De Mi Para Ti
5. Romance Divino
6. Como Te Amo
7. Mambo 2021
8. Sentimiento Y Son
9. Cuando La Hispánica Toca
10. Mi Amor Sincero
11. La Música Latina

This beautifully crafted, wholesome and heartfelt album opens on the infectious joy of Llegó La Hispanica and the formidable Imágenes Latinas (whose title nods to the iconic New York Latin pop group Conjunto Libre) and they are followed by the beautiful hipsway within Vestido De Flores, the summer breeze of De Mi Para Ti, the aptly-named, dance floor swirl of Romance Divino, and then comes one of my own personal favorites from the album, the soft-winged, ornately sculptured Como Te Amo.

Up next is the impassioned turn of the brisk Mambo 2021 (itself a throwback to SHO’s last album, The Latin Jazz Project) and that is itself backed seamlessly by the emphatically-charged Sentimiento Y Son, then comes the upbeat, fervently exuberant Cuando La Hispánica Toca, the album rounding out on the delicately-woven melodies and rhythms within Mi Amor Sincero (which starts as a slow bolero and before transforming into a cha-cha), closing on the free flowing La Música Latina (which also features the great Carlos Cascante on lead vocals).

“As leader and producer, my mission and vision is to represent the great history and legacy of this music that I’ve been blessed to be a part of my entire life,” reflects Hernández. “Our passion and commitment to this music is never ending.”

With this unyielding motivation Imágenes Latinas finds the band exploring new dimensions but never deviates from its core belief. “As with all the new SHO recordings, the concept and sound is the same but the playing of new songs, arrangements, and performances always aim to create a new magic for the listeners,” Hernández adds.

Official Website

Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Facebook

Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Twitter