One of the releases from the extensive Rough Guide catalog, this album deals with Cuban son. The nice thing about Rough Guide releases is the incredible breadth that they take upon themselves when creating an album. This one features luminaries from throughout Cuban music, all performing something roughly within the domain of the son. Original pioneers of the sound appear, including the Sexteto Habanero and the Septeto Nacional. Mambo star vocalist Beny Moré provides a track. Supergroups the Afro-Cuban All Stars and ¡Cubanismo! appear with modern versions of the son. Synthesizer-heavy phenomenon Los Van Van also provide their own version of the son. Overall, there's a good deal of wonderful music here to be heard. Every possible aspect of son is represented in some fashion, and that's nothing but good for a listener. This combination of classic and modern renditions within the same style provides both an overview of the genre and its changes as well as a broad spectrum from which the listener can draw their own favorites. The only possible missing links here would perhaps be a representative from Cuban jazz, à la Irakere. Still, a worthwhile album for the new listener and veteran alike. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide