40 ANIVERSARIO won the 2003 Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album.
After 40 years in the business, it is hard to imagine a band that can outshine El Gran Combo in public appeal. This live recording (recorded at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico) captures all the excitement of Puerto Rico's number one musical institution, with former EGC member Andy Montañez and Gilberto Santa Rosa adding the right touch of poignancy and mutual admiration. There are hit medleys (some of them encompassing different chapters in the history of the orchestra), as well as superlative performances by Montañez and Santa Rosa in their own personal homages to the band; this well-rounded set also includes some of the band's latest tunes from the beginning of the millennium. A fitting summation of one of the most consistent stories in salsa, and a most joyful hour. ~ José A. Estévez, Jr. minimize