Event details
“Salsa-fy” your holidays with Salsa Navidad, the latest release from three-time GRAMMY®-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra and special guest the legendary Arturo Sandoval, widely recognized as one of the best trumpet players in the world. Blending traditional Puerto Rican holiday rhythms (plena, bomba, aguinaldo) with the group’s signature New York “salsa dura” (hard salsa) sound, Spanish Harlem Orchestra is lauded for its joyful, authentic, and powerful arrangements. The band’s latest album is a fresh and unique approach to holiday music and includes American Christmas classics done in a salsa style, with several of the ensemble’s original music.
Sat Dec 12 | 8PM
Ticket prices
$40–$90
“Spanish Harlem Orchestra‘s expertise and passion for tapping the exciting riffs and entrancing grooves of Latin jazz is unquestioned,”
– Edmonton Journal
Media
About the Artist
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the three-time Grammy® winning Salsa and Latin Jazz band, sets the gold standard for excellence in authentic, New York style, hard core salsa.
Whether in a concert hall or at an outdoor jazz festival, there is no easing you in, they come at you full force, from start to finish. Their energy on stage and their rich sound and musical precision leave audiences mesmerized until the last note is played. With an unwavering respect for the music’s storied history, the ensemble’s thirteen world-class musicians and vocalists come together to create an unparalleled musical experience.
Now celebrating 25 years of excellence, SHO, as they are known to fans, is dedicated to the sounds of the barrio (Spanish Harlem, NYC). Their music is characterized by the raw, organic and vintage sound defined by the genre. They are on a mission to keep the musical legacy of salsa dura (hard salsa) alive and expand its audience to those who love great music, not just Latin music. Grounded in the past, while focused on the future, they strive to keep the music relevant, creating a unique and fresh approach.
With nine CD’s and six Grammy nominations, this powerhouse orchestra is aware that it is crucial to continually push themselves and raise the bar. Their new 2024 release, 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). Featuring six-time Grammy® winner Puerto Rican sonero, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Swing Forever continues to write Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s legacy in the annals of the music’s history.
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 Festival & the renowned Monterey Jazz Festival. Their 2018 release Anniversary won the 2019 Grammy® Award for “Best Tropical Album”. As recently as 2022, the band was once again nominated for the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards for their seminal release, Imágenes Latinas.
Arturo Sandoval
Born in Artemisa, Cuba, Arturo Sandoval is one of the world’s most celebrated jazz trumpeters, renowned for his extraordinary virtuosity, soaring range, and dynamic performances. Inspired by jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval became a pioneering force in Latin jazz, blending Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz and classical influences.
A 10-time Grammy Award winner and recipient of numerous international honors, Sandoval has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Oscars, Grammy Awards, and Billboard Awards. In addition to his acclaimed career as a trumpeter and flügelhorn player, he is also an accomplished pianist, composer, and educator.
Throughout his career, Sandoval has collaborated with artists including Tony Bennett, Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, and Michel Legrand, while continuing to inspire audiences worldwide with his electrifying artistry and enduring impact on jazz and Latin music.
Upcoming Performances
Featuring Pacific Jazz Orchestra
Chris Walden, conductor
Sutton Foster
Featuring Pacific Jazz Orchestra
Chris Walden, conductor
Sat Sep 19 | 8PM
Somni
with Special Guest
CSUN Jazz “A” Band