Trumpeter
Arturo Sandoval comes close on
Danzon to cutting the Afro-Cuban masterpiece everyone's awaited since his glorious sound first surfaced. From the animated solos on "Africa," "Tres Palabras," and "Conjunto" to the flowing, crisply articulated lines on "Groovin' High,"
Sandoval plays with imagination, verve and flair, displaying a more original and distinctive concept than on any of his GRP albums to date. He's joined by many top Latin musicians, plus special guest ringers like
Vikki Carr,
Bill Cosby, and
Gloria Estefan, but there's no pandering or stylistic compromises to integrate them into the proceedings. For those who've longed for
Sandoval to cut loose, here's the evidence that justifies his reputation. ~ Ron Wynn