** 1/2 Las Cecilias de Cuba, “De...

** 1/2 Las Cecilias de Cuba, “De Que Te Quejas?,” RealRhythm. As far as female ensembles go, Cuba already boasts the veteran Orquesta Anacaona, whose current incarnation is a more soulful outfit than this new, 10-piece ensemble. Still, this 1997 session finds Las Cecilias transcending the gimmicky aspects of their configuration by enriching their timba-heavy style with jazzy vocal harmonies, moments of pure pop, and a diverting excursion into merengue and conga territory.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.