Mi Tierra

Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan was a mainstream pop balladeer and dance music queen who happened to be Latina before taking a surprising turn in Mi Tierra and reclaiming her roots. Singing in Spanish, impeccably produced and backed by a superb ensemble that includes 79-year-old maestro Israel Lopez "Cachao" on bass (he is only the creator of mambo itself), arranger Juanito Marquez, and singer and percussionst Luis Enrique, Estefan delivers worthy reinterpretations and updates of traditional Afro-Cuban styles. It might be too smooth for traditionalists--who may also object to Estefan's delivery, not that of classic sonera--but as an introduction to the music, it is engaging and the playing of the ensemble is true and impeccable. --Fernando Gonzalez