He was contacted in 1996 by musician/producer Juan de Marcos Gonzalez and invited to record two albums with a group of veteran Cuban musicians, to be called the Afro-Cuban All Stars.

[8] One album was to have been a big band tribute to Cuba's musical heritage, the other a guitar-based collaboration with Malian musicians and American slide guitarist Ry Cooder.

The resulting album of fourteen songs, Buena Vista Social Club, was released in September 1997 and became a global hit, selling eight million copies.

[12] Mirabel played lead trumpet on records and in performances by the group and featured in the 1999 movie Buena Vista Social Club.

He later released solo works under the Buena Vista Social Club Presents... umbrella, including an album which paid tribute to Cuban music legend Arsenio Rodríguez.

[14] Cuban musicians Mirabal worked with included Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Rubén González, Compay Segundo.