Hector Aponte y Orquesta Harlem Riverside
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 2:35PM 
Orquesta Harlem RiversideThe debut project of Orquesta Harlem Riverside has been taking steadily taking shape in the facilities of the new Harlem School of Urban Music and Recording Arts @ Frederick Douglass Academy. (Doug Beavers, program director)
Orquesta Harlem Riverside combines historical figures and modern visionaries of New York’s long and unique history of Salsa, producing a brand new sound rooted in the foundations of New York City’s mambo era. The orchestra features the great vocalist and Mongo Santamaria and Eddie Palmieri alumnus Hector Aponte, a full seven-horn configuration and the likes of Tito Rodriguez alumnus Bobby Porcelli, Ruben Rodriguez and Ivan Renta. The orquesta is co-directed by the legendary arranger/conductor Ray Santos and Eddie Palmieri alum Doug Beavers arranging new originals and refreshed classics from New York’s Salsa legacy.
Orquesta Harlem Riverside, in conjunction with the Frederick Douglas Academy, is spearheading and effort to preserve these great works from New York’s Salsa tradition, via Educational Workshops, community functions, commissions for new works, and concerts promoting cultural and arts awareness.
The debut CD of Harlem Riverside Orchestra is currently slated for Summer 2012.