{"id":8474,"date":"2017-11-12T06:05:10","date_gmt":"2017-11-12T10:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=8474"},"modified":"2021-11-16T14:52:17","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T18:52:17","slug":"oscar-hernandez-art-latin-jazz-album-review-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2017\/11\/12\/oscar-hernandez-art-latin-jazz-album-review-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscar Hernandez “The Art of Latin Jazz” Album Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

“The Art of Latin Jazz”<\/em><\/a> is the first album under multi-Grammy Salsa bandleader Oscar Hernandez’ name. It also takes him out of his Salsa genre comfort zone.<\/p>\n

Oscar Hern\u00e1ndez had been a successful Salsa musician and bandleader for over 4 decades. He was the musical director for Ruben Blades’ Seis del Solar. Additionally, Oscar has been leading the acclaimed Spanish Harlem Orchestra for 15 years and counting. With both of these groups, Oscar Hernandez has won multiple Grammy awards.<\/p>\n

Note: check out the blog on Spanish Harlem Orchestra celebrating 15 years with my review of “Anniversary”<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oscar Hernandez Steps into Latin Jazz<\/h3>\n
\"Oscar
The 1st album Oscar Hernandez puts his name on is in the Latin Jazz genre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the first time Oscar puts his name on the cover of an album. Ironically, it’s not a Salsa one!<\/p>\n

There are two reasons why Oscar made this album. First, the work with SHO has diminished and he didn’t want to create another Salsa band in Los Angeles, where he’s made his home for 11 years.<\/p>\n

Secondly, he has always been a fan of small Latin Jazz bands, from Cal Tjader to Mongo Santamaria.<\/p>\n

Oscar decided to record “The Art of Latin Jazz”<\/em> because the opportunity presented itself. Therefore, he saw it as the right time.<\/p>\n

Why Record “The Art of Latin Jazz”<\/em>?<\/h3>\n

Through the years, Oscar has kept composing songs in the Latin Jazz format. He likes to include some in his Spanish Harlem Orchestra albums. Along the way, Oscar accumulated a catalog of 25 to 30 of his compositions.<\/p>\n

With more time available in these last few years, he created a quintet to play those Latin Jazz songs mostly around the Los Angeles area. Oscar decided to name his small group “Alma Libre”.<\/p>\n

After 4 or 5 years of playing gigs with Alma Libre, a friend encouraged Oscar to go to the studio. With that idea, Oscar Hernandez decided it was time to record his Latin Jazz material. This time, for the first time, it would be under his own name.<\/p>\n