Amazon.comThe Buena Vista Social Club and its subsequent spinoffs breathed life back into the classic son of prerevolutionary Cuba. With the exception of a traditional guaguanco by the percussion group Los Papines, this compilation of mid-'90s recordings focuses on more contemporary Afro-Cuban styles. Two tracks by Cuba's greatest dance band, Juan Formell and Los Van Van, serve as bookends for the set. In between are hard-charging, forward-looking performances by Adalberto Alvarez, NG La Banda, the late Elio Reve, and others. This music is to the current crop of Latin-pop hucksters what the Buena Vista Social Club was to Ricky Ricardo's TV orchestra. --Rick Mitchell