In addition, alto saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera appears as a guest artist in three tracks.

In addition, alto saxophone and clarinet player Paquito D'Rivera, who had collaborated with Valdés in Bebo Rides Again, played on three tracks as a "special guest".

[4] Like his previous albums, and even more so, this album presented a jazz approach to many Cuban classics from a variety of genres including bolero ("Bolero potpourrí", "Romance en La Habana"), son cubano ("Son de la loma", "El reloj de Pastora"), conga ("Conga potpourrí"), guaracha ("Pare cochero", " Guaracha potpourrí") and afro ("Ogguere").

[6] El Arte del Sabor has received generally positive reviews.

Jazz critic Scott Yanow called the album "a gem", highlighting its "charming melodies, subtle interplay, and wonderful playing".