Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

What makes SHO so special and recognized all over the world — especially by the dance community?
The essence of what makes salsa one of the great music genres has got a bit lost the last 10-15 years. With SHO we feel we have brought these elements back to the music, and people can hear and feel the difference.

We’ve paid our dues. It is no accident that we sound the way we do! After 30 something years, and I say this without ego, I don’t feel we should take a back seat to anyone

SHO seem to achieve a balance between a great sound and commercial success, how have you achieved that?
The great sound is due to the musicians who play the music, the songs and the arrangements. As far as commercial, we still don’t get commercial airplay, however, that is not what has dictated our success. Intelligent audiences and music fans have come out and supported us. Thank God for that!

You and Jimmy Bosch started a ‘new trend’ of the Old skool salsa sound, and ever since there seems to be a change of tastes in the salsa world, why do you think you were able to shift people’s tastes?
The truth as to what this music is and should be, has spoken, and I feel people recognize that there is a difference between the commercial pop salsa sound and what we do. Put us alongside any commercial salsa band and you WILL hear the difference!

Most of your songs are cover versions, great ones by the way, of salsa and mambo classics, do you plan to keep the SHO that way or are you planning to do more originals in the albums to come? There is more to come, right? Also new collaborations?
I remind you that on our last CD there were 5 original new songs. I will still do some old songs redone SHO style because after so many years (since they were originally recorded) I feel that some great songs need to be heard again, but that’s not to say we can’t or won’t do an entire CD of original material. Our next CD will not have any invited guests, we will fly on our own.

There are report suggesting that sales of salsa music are at a very low point, due to more ‘urban’ genres such as reggaeton and Latin hip hop. Are you affected by it, and what do you think of those genres?
I am not a fan of most reggaeton & Latin hip hop. I feel only a small percentage is good. Musically you can’t even begin to compare that music with ours. It is a fad, it too shall pass as I don’t think it will stand the test of time. Are those guys truly as talented as the singers you find in salsa (today as well as in the past)? Be honest now. I don’t think so! Sorry!

SHO has been a platform for its musicians: we have had George Delgado and El Chino Nunez (plus ex Vocalist Frankie Vazquez) with their own very good productions, do you think that might affect the SHO in any way?
Not at all! Those are all my friends and colleagues and I wish them the very best. I like to think that in some way SHO has afforded them the ability to do what they’re doing. George and Chino still play with SHO.

Where do you see the SHO in five years time?
Doing the same thing. Playing and performing the music we absolutely love. Why should we be doing something different? I feel committed to taking our music all over the world and we are recognized universally as one of the finest music ensembles you’ll find in the world in any kind of music. All of us in SHO have played this music a very long time, with all the best people in this genre. We’ve paid our dues. It is no accident that we sound the way we do! After 30 something years, and I say this without ego, I don’t feel we should take a back seat to anyone.

Peace & Blessings!

TOUR DATES OCTOBER 2005:
WED 19 COVENTRY 8pm Warwick Arts Centre, www.warwickartscentre.co.uk, 024 7652 4524, £15.50/£12.50 (concs)
THU 20 POOLE 8pm Lighthouse, www.lighthousepoole.co.uk, 01202 685 222, £15,50/£13,50 (registered disabled) /£7(students, children).
FRI 21 LONDON SE1 The Coronet, www.comono.co.uk, 0870 060 0100, £17
SAT 22 BASINGSTOKE 7.45pm The Anvil, www.theanvil.org.uk, 01256 844244, £15/£11 (concs)
MON 24 GATESHEAD 7.30pm The Sage Gateshead, www.thesagegateshead.org, 0191 443 4661, £16
TUE 25 LEICESTER 7.30pm De Montfort Hall, www.demontforthall.co.uk, 0116 233 3111, £17,50/£16.50 (concs)
WED 26 BRISTOL 8pm Colston Hall, www.colstonhall.org, 0117 922 3686, £16.50/5
THU 27 BRIGHTON 8pm Concert Hall Brighton Dome, www.brighton-dome.org.uk, 01273 709 709, £16.50/14 (concs)

Links:
www.spanishharlemorchestra.com
www.libertadrecords.com
www.imnworld.com