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For 30 years, Los Van Van have been Cuba's finest dance band. Under the direction of bassist Juan Formell, the group created its own style called songo, which updated the traditional charanga blend of flute and violins with trombones, electronic keyboards, and three powerfully charismatic lead vocalists. This 1999 EMI Hemisphere collection features 12 definitive tracks taken from Van Van's releases on the Cuban Caribe label. "Ay, Mama, Recibeme" smoothly recalls the band's romantic sound of the '70s, while "Que Palo Es Ese!" is a hypnotically funky call to Central American nations to follow Cuba's revolutionary example in the '80s. Other tracks are of more recent vintage, including the majestic orisha chant "Soy Todo" and the rhythmically locomotive "El Tren Se Va." After three decades, Los Van Van have earned their place not only among the greatest Afro-Cuban and salsa bands, but among the world's best bands, period. --Rick Mitchell