Love the Moment

Pianist Oscar Hernández (New York, United States 22-03-1954) presents Love The Moment , the second album he records along with his quintet Alma Libre. The Bronx-born and director of La Spanish Harlem Orchestra, published in 2017 The Art Of Latin Jazz , his first album with this format.

Hernandez, who has recorded in an infinite number of projects since the 1970s (La Conquistadora, Joey Pastrana, Celia Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, The Revelation of Ismael Miranda, Pupy Legarreta, New York Folkloric and Experimental Group, Free Ensemble , Rubén Blades & Son del Solar and Gloria Stefan, among others), integrated his quintet with musicians of great renown and trajectory, a fine balance between experienced artists and new blood.

As in his debut, this time, Hernandez released the album for Origin Records and re-composed and arranged the 10 cuts that make it up.

The album opens with Alternate Roots , number in which we hear the outstanding performance of the special guest of the Mexican Gilbert Castellanos in the trumpet, as well as Christian Moraga and Jimmy Branly in a counterpoint of tumblers and drums, respectively. Groove For Peace is a fierce cha-cha-cha with an inspired Just Almario to the saxophone. Hernández is downloaded in Latin Jazz, an explosive and cadenioso theme, a plethoric example of his Latin-jazz proposal. In Danzón For LisaThe turn is for the Matanzas violinist Dayren Santamar'a, which leaves Hernandez's number on a silver tray for an excellent piano solo. The cut that I title to the production, with a smooth rhythm, expresses something as simple and sublime as it is to love the moment. Gilbert Castellanos performs the trumpet solo. My Song Is For You is an explosive theme that starts a conversation between jazz and Cuban music. Just Almario is presented with only one in the first half while Hernandez receives him with a good piano solo for the Chilean Christian Moraga to finish off in the tumbadoras. In Mindful Thoughts the turn to show off is the bassist Oskar Cartaya, with an incredible solo by Hernandez on the piano to conclude. Feeling of loveIt is a ballad that sublimates the purest of sensations, love. In Silent Prayers Hernandez proposes an approach to Afro-Jazz.