Saxophonist and bandleader Raúl Gutierrez (Irazu, the AfroCuban All-stars) is still firing on all cylinders, having only just released a new CD (Prado Live) with his Cuban Big Band that pays homage to Pérez ‘King of Mambo’ Prado. This 2008 reissue the disc was originally only released in Latin America – serves as a timely introduction to and reminder of Gútierrez's prowess as a bandleader, overseeing the sprawling Cuban-style dance orchestra Sus Estrella Cubanas performing Cuban and Latin music standards such as ‘Cuban Fantasy, the Dizzy Gillespie co-write ‘Manteca’ and indeed ‘Mambo Inn’ with flair and – yes –elegance. With the dreamy title track masterfully arranged by Horazio González, and the classic likes of Jules Styne's ‘Three Coins in a Fountain’ and Perez Prado's ‘Caballo Negro’ given nuance and depth by a crack line-up from Cuba, Europe, America and beyond, Son Elegante revisits the golden age of Cuban big bands in ways sepia-tinted and box fresh.

Of particular interest are guest spots from late icons including Aristides ‘Tata Guines’ Soto, one of the greatest percussionists to come out of Cuba, and Policarpo ‘Polo’ Tamayo, one of the island's last five-key flute players. A (brass) polished paean to old-school Latin jazz.