" data-original-title="" title="">Kiki Valera, the scion of a musical family with roots in the nineteenth century. Valero is a master of the eight-stringed Cuban cuatro (double-string E-A-D-G)—there is a Puerto Rican variety as well—which has been around a long time, and is, of course, a relative of the guitar. The thing about this recording, and what makes it such a kick, is not only the Latin percussion, with the conga, the bongo, the coro and the clave, but the insistent wailing of a group of guest trumpet players who can part someone's proverbial hair. They are all well-known players. There is a lot more to this than high-note histrionics, with the jazz trumpet work on "La Guajira" an outstanding example. And the sonorous vocal blend on "Mu?equita Feliz" has the potential to make anyone happy.

If the extent of someone's exposure to this genre of music is limited to "Buena Vista Social Club" (1996), listening to what Kiki Valera and his band can do is really an eye-opener, especially on "P��jaro Lindo" where the clave is so insistent it takes on a life of its own. The vocal, brass and percussion blend is spectacular. "Dos Gardenias" is another small vocal masterpiece, probably something one could hear in a club in New York, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or somewhere in Andalucía. There is even a reassuring montuno on "El Cuarto de Tula," so there is a familiar point of reference, blistering trumpet work aside, with Kiki Valera and