There is an argument to say that Sosa, talented as he is, has over-recorded in the past decade or so. While not quite of Murray-esque proportions, his discography is vast and has below par entries as well as moments of real brilliance, as in Spirit Of The Roots. This collaboration with the NDR big band lies somewhere in the middle, a solid if unspectacular work that underlines Sosa's ability as both composer and improviser all the while revealing the need for him to freshen up his modus operandi. Given his vast knowledge of the music of his native Cuba, it is understandable that he casts the stylistic net as wide as he does, moving easily from danceable cha cha to contemplative bolero with all the requisite skill. NDR has some good soloists and Jacques Morelenbaum's arrangements are in keeping with the tradition of Machito, O'Farill, Dizzy et al, which means that this is, by and large, palatable stuff. The creative peak, ‘Glu-Glu’, is a reminder of Sosa's ability to craft polyrhythmically interesting songs that have a primal, ancestral quality that reflects his years of research into African retentions in Latin America. It is a shame that there isn't more in that vein though. Sosa remains one of the most dynamic and irrepressibly prolific musicians to have emerged from the Caribbean in the past two decades, but it might be time for him to work with partners that can challenge him in the best possible way.