In sheer colour and variety, in the depth of characterization and the exceptional range and refinement of his playing, Oscar Hernández here imparts a powerful stature...
Now in the middle of a towering career as founder & leader of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, musical director for Rubén Blades, and pianist, arranger and producer for some of the biggest names in Contemporary Latin music, three-time Grammy winner Oscar Hernández turns to his working quintet to present Love the Moment. Pulling from several lifetimes worth of musical experiences, Hernandez penned ten originals to perform with his Los Angeles-based ensemble, featuring the legendary saxophonist Justo Almario and special guests, San Diego trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and violinist Dayren Santamaria, along with drummer Jimmy Branly, bassist Oscar Cartaya, and percussionist Christian Moraga.
Track Listing:
1. Otro Nivel 4:53
2. Love The Moment 6:05
3. Latino Jazz 5:57
4. Danzon For Lisa 5:17
5. Mi Cancion Es Para Ti 4:43
6. Silent Prayers 6:08
7. Alternate Roots 5:08
8. Sentimiento De Amor 5:23
9. Groove For Peace 4:22
10. Mindful Thoughts 5:58
All compositions by Oscar Hernández, Taino Music, BMI
Performers:
Oscar Hernandez - Piano/Leader
Justo Almario - Sax/Flute
Jimmy Branly - Drums
Oskar Cartaya - Bass
Christian Moraga - Conga/Percussion
Guests Gilbert Castellanos - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Dayren Santamaria - Violin
Production Info:
Produced by Oscar Hernández
Executive Producers Oscar Hernández, Joseph Slopis
Aka Wolfgang Von Einstein, Dr. John Slopis
Recorded Live at Stagg Street Studios, Van Nuys, CA
April 10-11, 2019
Recording Engineer: Bil Lane
Assisted by David Martinez
Mixed & Mastered by Jimmy Branly
Cover Art & Design: Jhonatan González S.
Cover Photograph: Yari Ortiz
Reviews of Love the Moment
Glide Magazine (Jim Hynes)
Love the Moment with Oscar Hernández and Alma Libre is an ensemble recording by the bandleader of the three-time GRAMMY® Winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra. One of the true giants of Latin jazz, the composer and pianist joins with Justo Almario on saxophone/flute, Oskar Cartaya on bass, Jimmy Branly on drums, Christian Moraga on percussion, and sp ...
Latin Jazz Network (Raul da Gama)
Editor's Pick The celebrated composer, pianist and director of the award-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Oscar Hernández has another incarnation and it's called Alma Libre, a smaller group that he sometimes calls together to play his high-spirited and energetic – and sometimes moody and elegiac – music. As with everything he composes (and p ...
National Foundation for Popular Culture (Puerto Rico) (Jaime Torres Torres)
Define jazz as one of the most beautiful expressions of art.
Developed as a musician in New York, it was inevitable that, parallel to salsa, jazz would awaken his interest early, especially when he collaborated with Ray Barretto and Dave Valentín, who were transiting the genre.
After a career with Ismael Miranda & La Revelación, Libre, the ...
El Chino (Cali, Colombia) (Editor)
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 projec ...
Midwest Record (Chris Spector)
The Latin jazz hydra presents yet another side of his skills with a second outing that flies under this particular flag. A solid serving of smoking Latin jazz that positions itself in an up market vibe, this classy set is a delightful fast ball right down the middle. Professional and well played while leaving the emotion and passion in tact, the ...
El Expresso (Puerto Rico) (Vicente Toledo Rohena)
The pianist, composer, arranger and orchestra conductor based in California, Oscar Hernández, returns to the musical environment with the production 'Love the moment', an album that he presents with his quintet composed by Oskar Cartaya (bass), Justo Almario (saxophone and flute), Jimmy Branly (drums) and Christian Moraga (percussion). In addition ...
The New York City Jazz Record (Russ Musto)
The sophomore release from Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre finds the leader of the Grammy-Award winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra in the more intimate setting of a quintet, shining a brighter spotlight on his skills as a soloist and composer/arranger. The band—saxophonist/flutist Justo Almario, electric bassist Oskar Cartaya, drummer Jimmy Branly an ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Pianist Oscar Hernandez mixes and matches with scintillating Afro Jazz artists Justo Almario/sax-fl, Oskar Cartaya/b, Christian Moraga/perc, Gilbert Castellanos/tp and Dayren Santamaria/vi for a sizzling session. Almario earns his name as the "Latin Coltrane" here with a wonderfully mysterious soprano outing on "Love The Moment" while his tenor glo ...
