Hernandez certainly does love salsa.
“I’m on a mission to play this music with the utmost integrity, as I have for close to 40 years, and to bring that sound to people all over the world.”
There’s no deviating from the essence of the sound - Hernandez won’t allow it. “We have to be absolutely clear on the music, how we do it, and how we record it. What makes the Spanish Harlem Orchestra special is its dedication to the integrity of the musical form.”
“We’ve been together for 10 years,” says Hernandez, “and we’ve had four CDs and won two Grammys. But our music is the same across the board.
What makes it unique is that we add new songs with new arrangements – but the sound stays the same. A few years ago, a lot of younger musicians went with a pop sound, but Spanish Harlem stayed with the raw sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s. My concept was developed by playing with top musicians – that’s how you get to the essence of the music. There’s no doubt about what we do. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
And it certainly ain’t broke. But the Centre for the Arts audience is going to be treated to something extra special on Dec. 7 – it will be a first.
Says Hernandez, “We’ve actually never done a holiday themed show before, so it’s been exciting to put this one together.”
Although he does many of the arrangements himself, Hernandez has also brought in a number of other arrangers to work on this special night’s production.
He explains that the combination will be a mix of Latin Christmas music along with traditional North American holiday music, and a whole lot of essential Spanish Harlem Orchestra heat. Together, the mix promises to add up to an incomparable evening of fabulous rhythms designed to keep you dancing for the rest of the season!
Written by Liz Fleming, the managing editor of
NaturallyInNiagara.ca, a freelance corporate and travel writer, and the author of two ebooks, “Since You’re Here, We Might As Well Shag”, and “207 Travel Tips Because 101 Just Wouldn’t Have Been Enough”, both published on
Amazon.com
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centrestage - WINTER 2011/12 WINTER 2011/12 centrestage - FALL 2011
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