Spanish Harlem Orchestra - United We Swing (2007), Six Degrees Records CD 657036-1134-2

I first heard this album when I was working as the Music Librarian for KOOP Radio in Austin, Texas in 2007, and we received a promo copy for our Music Library. I have been a fan of Latin salsa and Afro-Cuban music in general for some time, so I was blown away by this contemporary large ensemble playing classic rumbas, Cuban sons, and other Afro-Latin styles with such a classic/retro touch and precision. Led by Oscar Hernandez, who also arranges most of the tunes on this disc, this is a 14-member Latin big band with three vocalists as well as multiple trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a full complement of various percussion instruments. If you like the classic sounds of Machito, Tito Puente's larger groups, Tito Rodriguez, Beny More, etc., then you will definitely dig this group. This is their third full-length, and they released their seventh and latest just last year.

Most of the cuts on this disc are up-tempo salsa dura numbers, featuring call-and-response vocals between the lead singer and the other two vocalists. "Que Bonito" veers a tinge toward a more Latin pop direction, and the closer is a cover of Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening" with Simon making a guest cameo on vocals. This has never been one of my favorite Simon compositions, so it's definitely the weakest track on the disc--good thing they put it last. Reviewing the CD for allmusic.com, Jeff Tamarkin concurs with my opinion and is effusive in his praise of the rest of the album, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album of 2007. This group does classic Latin right.

Do I Really Need This record?  Considering that my previous copy of this album was a rip I had made of the promo copy mentioned above, I really needed to upgrade to the manufactured CD version, which I snapped up when I saw it offered for $7 on the Dusty Groove web site. Sonic upgrades are always a necessity, and they don't take up any extra shelf space since they are merely replacements, not additions.