Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Americas Society

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Wednesday, 08 April 2009 10:45

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It might have been dreary outside on that rainy Wednesday night, but inside the sold-out performance room of Upper East Side's Americas Society the mood was joyous as The Spanish Harlem Orchestra took the stage with their usual SHO Intro featuring Oscar Hernandez, who introduces the group and all its members.

The space seemed strangely small to host a 13-piece band, but there was this intimate feeling that was like sitting in someone's living room (which was acknowledged by Hernandez later in the show). The ensemble immediately followed with "Cuando Se Vea," an uptempo tune in which trumpeter John Walsh played a highly accomplished solo.

"El Tiempo de Palladium" recalls the heyday of the 1950s mambo craze (especially in New York), when musicians such as Tito Puente and Perez Prado were the main events in dance clubs all over the country. The song also acknowledges the creation of what is today regarded as salsa "dura," the NYC-created "harder" form of the genre championed by the Fania All-Stars - a more aggressive approach than the more commercial form favored by DJs today. Salsa "dura" incorporates several other musical influences, such as samba, R&B and jazz.

One of the concert's highlight was a yet-unreleased instrumental number called "Nuevo Amañecer," which had more of a jazzy, Brazilian-Cuban feel. Another great moment came with "Danzón For My Father," a slow-tempo piece that began with a beautiful, almost classical-like piano intro that became danzón (traditional genre of Cubansho_2 music).

Also worth mentioning is "Que Bonito," a composition by vocalist Marco Bermudez, who sang lead with great passion. The ensemble closed with "Salsa Dura," a five minute-plus number that also served to showcase the musicians' individual technique.

It is hard to stay still when listening to this group, and for that specific reason, the concert's organizers left space in the back of the room for those who wanted to dance. Glancing from my seat in the front row (big mistake: this is a very loud band), I noticed that there were a few people who followed that advice. Most, however, remained seated in order to enjoy the musicians' fantastic prowess. There is no missing link in the group, they are all well-trained professionals who love what they do --- and boy, did we enjoy ourselves.

 

words & photos by Ernest Barteldes

 

Visit Americas Society Music of The Americas program at www.musicoftheamericas.org

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