Although 's move to later signified his transition to crossover fare, his label debut, , makes no concessions or overtures to the charts. Armed with a batch of original compositions spanning from to mortunos and backed by a crack session band including trumpeter and flutist , delivers one of the finest traditional records of the mid-'60s. The virtues of the set are many: 's conga rhythms are fiery yet tasteful, 's luminous arrangements boast an authentic Cuban flavor, and all of the musicians receive ample opportunity to shine, in particular (whose -inspired flute galvanizes the superb ). ~ Jason Ankeny