3x Grammy Winner Spanish Harlem Orchestra Honor Tradition with Swing Forever, Their Ninth Album, Due Out August 23, 2024 via Ovation Records

On the cusp of their 24th anniversary, the world-renowned, 3x GRAMMY-Award winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra returns with their ninth studio album, Swing Forever. Releasing on August 23, 2024, Swing Forever solidifies Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s well-earned reputation as the true sound of the barrio, and “the leading light of the salsa reconstruction movement” (Newsday). Under the direction of Latin music legend Oscar Hernández, the 13-piece all-star salsa band showcases their signature hard-hitting, contemporary New York sound that pays homage to the rich musical history of the genre. Releasing on Ovation Records, the roll-out of Swing Forever includes 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. More details can be found here.

Swing Forever is made up of eleven tracks that exemplify the top tier salsa dura sound that Spanish Harlem Orchestra is universally known and loved for. A highlight of Swing Forever is a special feature with Puerto Rican sonero Gilberto Santa Rosa. A six time GRAMMY award winner, Gilberto Santa Rosa is considered one of the most influential soneros of his generation, and has contributed to countless essential Latin music recordings over the past forty years. On Swing Forever, Hernández wanted to include the great singer, and thus arranged the album centerpiece “Llegó El Caballero” with him in mind. On this track, Santa Rosa’s poetic vocal artistry shines especially bright. 

Swing Forever stays true to their ethos by honoring the great salsa tradition with great respect and reverence. One of the music’s most important figures is indisputably Ray Barretto, with whom Hernández has a rich history dating back to Barretto’s seminal 1979 recording Rican/Struction. During his formative years as a pianist and arranger on the New York salsa scene, Hernández received invaluable mentorship from the legendary band leader and percussionist. Over seven years performing with the master artist, and six releases as his studio collaborator, Hernández felt his artistry transform into a truly personal expression deeply rooted in tradition and lineage. He honors the iconic musician on Swing Forever with an artful arrangement of Barretto’s “Yo Vine Pa’ Echar Candela”. 

In addition to the Barretto arrangement, Swing Forever features a smoking rendition of Rubén Blades’ “Las Calles”, arranged by Doug Beavers, as well as Jorge Luis Chacin’s lyrical “Anhelo en la Lluvia”, arranged by Angel Fernández and Edwin Perez’s “Bailador”. Hernández contributed five originals, including the aforementioned tune for Santa Rosa. The compositions and arrangements, which are dynamic showcases for the highly skilled members of the salsa orchestra, particularly spotlight the three vocalists: Marco Bermudez, Carlos Cascante, and Jeremy Bosch, with Cascante and Bosch (who also displays his mastery as a flutist throughout the album) each contributing a tune each.

Produced and conceived by Hernández and co-produced by GRAMMY-nominated Doug Beavers, Swing Forever continues the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s legacy, which includes five GRAMMY Award nominations and three wins. The album showcases their cohesive journey, with exciting horns and driving percussion that bring their music to life. The band has performed on prestigious stages around the world, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, and the Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz & Monterey Jazz.

Source: Lydia Liebman Promotions