[8] Unlike some traditional Cuban bands, Sierra Maestra incorporated modern musical styles into its sound, including descarga.

[14] The Sydney Morning Herald called the album "traditional, no-frills music done very well... And the mixture of danceable tunes, son montunos and more melodic sones is just right.

"[18] The Globe and Mail wrote: "Star soloist piano player Bernardo Sassetti corners the band's jazz market with hard-driving (if occasionally lick-heavy) flights, but the real star is the whole Sierra Maestra galaxy—the nine-piece band's collective propulsion and flawless vocal ensemble work.

"[20] The Baltimore Sun concluded that "it's one thing to know that Cuba has the richest musical heritage of any nation in the Caribbean, quite another to have the depth and breadth of that tradition demonstrated by a single band.

"[16] AllMusic wrote that "this large band creates a bright testament to the glories of Cuban music, from son to changui.