La Santa Cecilia‘s lead singer La Marisoul has released her first solo album. She beautifully blends Latin and big band music on La Marisoul and The Love Notes Orchestra, Vol. 1.
Marisol Hernandez, who is known as La Marisoul in La Santa Cecilia, put on her first solo live show in L.A. back in February. She was joined by a 24-piece orchestra that included her La Santa Cecilia bandmates. La Marisoul and The Love Notes Orchestra is a recording of that performance.
On the 7-track album, La Marisoul re-imagines bolero classics like “Bonita,” “Amar y Vivir,” and “Urge” with a full-orchestra spin. As much as this album is personal for being her first solo release, it’s also rooted in the music she grew up on.
“This is a love note to my father,” La Marisoul said in a statement. “Lalo, as they called my dad, was a charismatic, stylish, travieso. A lover of life, love, and music – a bohemio! I remember he’d tell me how happy it would make him one day to hear me sing our favorite boleros in orquesta style, como Daniel Santos y Toña La Negra.”
After performing at this year’s Hispanic Heritage Awards, La Marisoul premiered the music video for “Un Telegrama.” She does an old school jig in the quirky visual that captures her album’s throwback vibe. Expect a second volume of the The Love Notes Orchestra series to follow soon.
“Finally this year I had the opportunity to work with a 24-piece orchestra and have fun with the new arrangements!” La Marisoul said. “It felt like this was becoming something very special, so we decided to have the event recorded. The result y la magia was clear, this was that, a Love Note to the world and to my father. I hope you enjoy these classics as much as we did, with love y cariño siempre.”