This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, Buena Vista Social Club’s ears are burning.
Ever since their acclaimed album, every jazz combo that could round up a set of timbales and learn a traditional Latin melody has been lining up to ride their coattails. The latest is the 18-member Hip Bop Essence Allstars, led by Argentine saxman Gato Barbieri. They’re The Monkees to Buena Vista’s Beatles, the ATeens to their Abba, the ‘N Sync to their Backstreet Boys. Which is not to say that these Latin-tinged modern jazz offerings don’t deliver the goods on occasion; Barbieri has embraced the sound to varying degrees over his lengthy career, and cohorts like pianist Bob James and percussionist Larry Frantangelo have the chops to make these tracks jump and jive as if they all were raised in Havana. But they weren’t — and like it or not, that’s sort of the point, isn’t it?
