Whether a concert hall or an outdoor jazz festival, there is no easing you in, they are coming at you full force from start to finish. Their energy on stage, rich sound and musical precision leave audiences mesmerized until the last note is played. With an unwavering respect for the musics rich history, thirteen world-class musicians and vocalists come together to create an unparalleled musical experience.
Now in its fourteenth year, SHO, as they are known to fans, is dedicated to the sounds of the barrio. 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, while creating a unique and fresh approach.
With four albums, and as many Grammy nominations, this Latin Jazz powerhouse knows it is crucial to continually push themselves and raise the bar. They recently released their fifth album, featuring two of America's great jazz icons, Chick Corea & saxophonist Joe Lovano. Oscar Hernandez and Spanish Harlem Orchestra continue to raise the bar of excellence in their music.
HISTORY
After two decades of session work, composing, arranging and producing, band leader Oscar Hernández was approached by producer Aaron Levinson in 2000 about the idea of assembling and recording a Latin jazz orchestra. The result was Un Gran Dia en el Barrio, the 2002 debut recording from Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) that scored a Grammy nomination for Best Salsa Album and a Latin Billboard Award for Salsa Album of the Year. Based on the success of their first CD, Hernández and SHO began touring and wowing audiences all over the world.
Recordings
Their first Grammy win came in 2004 with their follow-up album, Across 110th Street, a reference to Harlem’s southern boundary. Featuring Ruben Blades as guest artist, the combination proved to be explosive and featured Blades singing in the style of Salsa Dura that many of his fans longed to hear.
Released in 2007, United We Swing earned yet another Grammy nomination. The album features Paul Simon as special guest singing a burning rendition of his hit "Late in The Evening" -- SHO style. Their second Grammy winning album, Viva La Tradicion, was released in 2010.
Band Leader
Oscar Hernández is all about tradition. Born into a large Puerto Rican family living in the Bronx, it was the nearby Spanish Harlem neighborhood that shaped his cultural musical sensibilities. The soundtrack to this bustling enclave in the ‘60s, emanating from any given window on any given day, was a mix of Latin Jazz and American pop radio.
Hernandez started playing the trumpet at age twelve; he switched to piano shortly thereafter. By the time he finished his teen years, he was making a living as a professional musician and gigging with some of the most talented Latin Jazz artists of the ‘70s. He spent much of the ‘80s producing, arranging and playing piano for Panamanian vocalist Rubén Blades while simultaneously leading his own band, Seis del Solar. In the 90's Hernandez produced a recording titled "Dance City" which received a rave review in the NY Times and led Paul Simon to call him as arranger/producer & musical director for his Broadway show "The Capeman."
Soy Candela
Spanish Harlem Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soy candela de los pies a la cabeza
Soy caña brava,
León de la maleza,
Soy agua que cae en la cascada,
Manantial de pueblo,
Alivio a tu garganta.
Soy la furia si me agita tu traición,
Si me ofrece cariño y amistad... los devuelvo con toda sinceridad.
Y al enemigo que con su celo acusa,
Que por envidia se ensaña malicioso
Yo le traigo la flor blanca que es ternura
Le traigo la espina de la rosa.
Lo mismo soy candela que dulce pa' que me quiera
Pa' que sepa
Lo mismo soy candela que dulce pa' que me quiera
Soy una llama encendida
Pero yo tengo lo mio
Cuidado que te quema!
Lo mismo soy candela que dulce pa' que me quiera
Vengo brindando cariño y amistad
Y al que venga con maldad de mi vida queda fuera.
No te equivoques conmigo te lo digo de verdad,
Lo mio es sinceridad.
Soy dulce, dulce, dulce pa' quién me quiera
Mire lo que nos dejó José Febles
Que en paz descanse
Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela.
Oye yo vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela
Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela.
Pero no me venga con maldad, no me venga con mentiras
Yo no quiero na'
Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela.
Siempre vengo de frente para ver y coger impulso, yo te lo digo camara'
Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela
Candela. candela. como una llama encendida
Oye cuidao' que te quema
Fuego, fuego!
Candela. candela. te quema
Pero mira lo que yo tengo es agua en las venas
Tu maldad, te digo se queda fuera
Pero ven y háblame con sinceridad
Yo te digo soy amigo de la humanidad.
Y para el envidioso que no me quiera
No me venga con paquetes que no quiero na'
Lo que traigo es la verdad
óyelo bien!
The lyrics of Soy Candela by Spanish Harlem Orchestra are about the singer's fiery and passionate personality. The song begins with the warning, "Cuidado que vengo quemando!" (Be careful, I'm coming in hot!), followed by the assertion that the singer is "candela de los pies a la cabeza" (fire from head to toe). The singer is also compared to other powerful elements of nature, such as a "caña brava" (wild cane), "león de la maleza" (lion of the jungle), and "agua que cae en la cascada" (water that falls in the waterfall).
The singer goes on to describe their emotional range, saying that they are "la furia si me agita tu traición" (fury if your betrayal upsets me), but also "un beso que nace del corazón" (a kiss that comes from the heart). They also promise to return any love and friendship offered to them, "con toda sinceridad" (with all sincerity). The singer even offers olive branches to their enemies, bringing them a white flower symbolizing tenderness and a rose thorn to represent the pain they have caused. In the end, the singer emphasizes their honesty and their desire for genuine relationships.
This song shows the power of language and metaphor to convey complex emotions and personality traits. The singer uses images from nature and emotions like fury and tenderness to paint a picture of themselves that is simultaneously intimidating and inviting. By emphasizing their sincerity and their willingness to forgive, they also inspire listeners to be more open and honest in their own relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuidado que vengo quemando!
Be careful because I come burning!
Soy candela de los pies a la cabeza
I am fire, from head to toe
Soy caña brava, León de la maleza
I am wild cane, king of the jungle
Soy agua que cae en la cascada, Manantial de pueblo, Alivio a tu garganta.
I am water that falls in a cascade, spring of the people, relief for your throat.
Soy la furia si me agita tu traición,
I am fury if your betrayal angers me
Soy un beso que nace del corazón,
I am a kiss that comes from the heart
Si me ofrece cariño y amistad... los devuelvo con toda sinceridad.
If you offer me love and friendship... I return it with all sincerity
Y al enemigo que con su celo acusa, Que por envidia se ensaña malicioso Yo le traigo la flor blanca que es ternura Le traigo la espina de la rosa.
And to the enemy who accuses with zeal, who out of envy acts wickedly, I bring the white flower that is tenderness. I bring the thorn of the rose.
Lo mismo soy candela que dulce pa' que me quiera
I am both fire and sweet, so that you will love me
Pa' que sepa
So you know
Soy una llama encendida
I am a burning flame
Pero yo tengo lo mio
But I have my own
Cuidado que te quema!
Be careful, it will burn you!
Vengo brindando cariño y amistad
I come offering love and friendship
Y al que venga con maldad de mi vida queda fuera.
And whoever comes with evil intent is out of my life.
No te equivoques conmigo te lo digo de verdad,
Don't be mistaken about me, I tell you the truth
Lo mio es sinceridad.
My thing is sincerity
Mire lo que nos dejó José Febles,Q ue en paz descanse
Look what José Febles left us, may he rest in peace
Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela.
I come straight ahead and what I bring is fire.
Oye yo vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela
Listen, I come straight ahead and what I bring is fire
Pero no me venga con maldad, no me venga con mentiras Yo no quiero na' Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela.
But don't come at me with evil or lies. I don't want any of that. I come straight ahead and what I bring is fire.
Siempre vengo de frente para ver y coger impulso, yo te lo digo camara' Vengo de frente y lo que traigo es candela
I always come straight ahead to see and gain momentum, I tell you my friend. I come straight ahead and what I bring is fire.
Candela. candela. como una llama encendida
Fire. fire. like a burning flame
Oye cuidao' que te quema
Hey, be careful, it'll burn you.
Fuego, fuego!
Fire, fire!
Candela. candela. te quema
Fire. fire. it burns you
Pero mira lo que yo tengo es agua en las venas
But look, what I have is water in my veins
Tu maldad, te digo se queda fuera
Your evil, I tell you, stays outside
Pero ven y háblame con sinceridad
But come and talk to me with sincerity
Yo te digo soy amigo de la humanidad.
I tell you, I am a friend to humanity.
Y para el envidioso que no me quiera
And for the envious person who doesn't like me
No me venga con paquetes que no quiero na'
Don't come at me with things I don't want
Lo que traigo es la verdad óyelo bien!
What I bring is the truth, listen well!
Writer(s): johnny ortiz
Contributed by Penelope L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.