"We played just now in Poole England," says Oscar Hernandez.

"If you'd have told me 30 years ago that I would be playing for 500 British people dancing the salsa I would have said, 'You're crazy'.

But this was the case. That's a tribute to the power of this music - we felt the love in Poole, England."

Currently being hailed as Harlem's answer to Buena Vista Social Club ("it's only true in that we're both playing music from a certain place and a certain time but if it brings commercial success for our music then god bless that analogy"), the Spanish Harlem Orchestra is the sound of 21st-Century Latin music.

Specialising in rumbas, cha-chas, boleros and a driving swing that could wake the dead, they are led by Hernandez, a pianist and arranger who has been musical director to both the legendary Ruben Blades (who guests on the current album) and Paul Simon's Broadway show The Capeman.

Drafting in members of the orchestra for the recording, he is also the man who gave Sex And The City its instantly recognisable Latino theme tune.

From Tito Puente to Marc Anthony, Spanish Harlem has had a monumental effect on American music, giving birth to salsa, Latin soul, boogaloo and countless other variants.

But as many of its signature artists (Machito, Puente, Rodriguez and Celia Cruz) began to pass, Hernandez, together with music producer Aaron Levinson, saw fit to re-record some of the old Latino classics to invigorate the interest of a new generation.

Comprising a group of New York musicians and singers who "not only understand the legacy of this music but have been a part of that legacy", the Spanish Harlem Orchestra recorded their Grammy-nominated debut album One Great Day In The Neighborhood in 2002, broke to tour the world, and recently released its energetic followup Across 110th Street.

"This style of music had kind of been lost for the last ten to 15 years," explains Hernandez. "I think people lost their way somehow - they forgot what the essence of this music is and what made it happen, and it became slick mass-produced pop.

"Even Ruben Blades got away from it somewhat and it's evident from the way the joy permeates through the speakers on those tracks that he was very happy to return to his roots.

"This is music we all love with a capital 'L'," he continues, "and when we hear the original we go, 'Ahhh,' - it's like putting on an old pair of pants.

We like to play our own music also but always with the same concept - that driving, hard-core, down to the real-deal sound."

Starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £16.50 or £14, call 01273 709709.