The Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Special Guest Vocalist: Herman Olivera

Name: The Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Special Guest Vocalist: Herman Olivera
Start: 2025-08-15T19:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-08-15T22:00:00-06:00
Location: Albuquerque Museum of Art and History

Schedule

Fri Aug 15 2025 at 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

Albuquerque Museum of Art and History | Albuquerque, NM

Join us for a night of fun with a dash of Salsa picante, as one of the hottest classic, dance-inducing New York City Salsa Dura Bands in the land brings their high-energy sounds back to Albuquerque.
Founded by veteran pianist Oscar Hernández and dedicated to the classic, dance-inducing New York City Salsa Dura sound, Spanish Harlem Orchestra entered the scene with a blaze of clave on the 2002 debut album Un Gran Dia en el Barrio, which earned a GRAMMY nomination and Latin Billboard Award for Salsa Album of the Year.
A widely esteemed accompanist and arranger known for his extensive work with conga legend Ray Barretto and salsa star Ruben Blades’ innovative Seis Del Solar ensemble, Hernández took the plunge into bandleading with the SHO. Three GRAMMY Awards later, he’s become an institution himself.
Over their two-decade existence, the band has issued a string of increasingly audacious albums that have featured guests including Chick Corea, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Kurt Elling, Miguel Zenón, and Tom Harrell, among others.
The latest release, 2022’s GRAMMY-nominated Imágenes Latinas, features new songs and arrangements celebrating the legacy of Manny Oquendo’s Conjunto Libre, the iconic New York salsa and Latin jazz group. On this night, SHO arrives with the intention to move you.

PRESS QUOTES:
“One of the most important contemporary Latin music ensembles in existence today.”
Latin Jazz Network
“From start to finish, Spanish Harlem Orchestra flaunts its jazz bona fides without dismissing its statement of purpose.”
DownBeat
“This band reminds you of the excitement that is central to the salsa orchestra”
The New York Times
“From the first downbeat, the performance delivers a welcome kinetic jolt, with Hernández spearheading the churn of a world-class rhythm section.”
WBGO
“The high-energy sound of SHO—in the salsa dura (hard salsa) style—incorporates driving rhythms perfect for the dance floor.”
KCRW
“More than just expert, authentic, tight Latin jazz, it’s a true work of art. And when you hear its infectious rhythms, good luck trying not to move.”
Edmonton Journal