This is one of trumpeter
Arturo Sandoval's more restrained sessions but he cuts loose effectively in some spots. Accompanied by one of two orchestras arranged and conducted by
Michel Legrand on most of the selections,
Sandoval displays his warm tone and infuses songs such as "Little Sunflower," "Once Upon a Summertime" and "To Diz with Love" with lots of feeling; his duet with
Legrand on
Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" is touching. The ten-minute "Dahomey Dance" (which also has solos from tenor-saxophonist
Ernie Watts and trombonist
Bill Watrous) and a hyper "Giant Steps" are among the many highlights of this recommended disc. ~ Scott Yanow