A fabulous 2-disc collection that’s a showcase for this 87-year old Cuban pianist/arranger/composer & features a Who’s Who of Latin music: Paquito D’Rivera, Luis Bonilla, Ray Vega, Juan Pablo Torres and about a dozen others. All tracks are jazzy instrumental Cuban dances. The playing throughout is gorgeous, each solo is rock-solid. It’s captivating, sophisticated, and fantastically good. Great notes too. One of the best of the year. All tracks cmposed, arranged, and conducted by Valdes. At least one star per track – you can’t go wrong. I am in love with this album.

Disc 1 is a swinging, big band sound full of dishy horns. It explores Afro-Cuban rhythms while paying homage to (among others) his wife, Dizzy Gillespie, and Cachao Lopez.
Disc 1:
1. Short, swinging instrumental. Only :29.
2. Sexy midtempo mambo. Yummy work from all esp. horns.
3. Big, bright, brassy dance w/ a cool syncopated break.
4. Sweet, playful progression of perc/horns. Upbeat, so damn good!
5. Part old-fashioned big band romance/part hot Cuban jazz. We like.
6. Jazzy, sunny, w/lots of brass. Piano flashback to “Summer Place”
7. Warm & swaying batanga w/nice tradeoffs of solos.
8. Reprise of #1, this time as a conga. Again….too short!


Disc 2 features a smaller, more intimate sound. An octet let by Valdes at piano and comprised of select musicians from CD 1.

1. Sweet, mellow, and delicious. With great horns/perc/piano.So good
2. Light & swaying dance. Solid percussion solo, midtempo & solid.
3. Slow, romantic. A fabulous slow dance with your sweetie. Sigh…
4. Playful and bright mid/uptempo groove w/style for days.
5. Elec. guitar adds a nice touch to this warm, midtempo dance.
6. Sweet clarinet/guitar. A relaxed love song w/lots of charm.
7. Old-fashioned romance. Music to fall in love to.
8. Upbeat, nicely brassy. Cool guitar/trombone solos. Solid perc.
9. Slow, gentle love song. Nostalgic, w/a soft, small club sound.
10. Classic Cuban jazz jam. Upbeat, solid solos, great work from all.