Throughout her storied career, Gloria Estefan broke ground and crossed borders in pursuit of her musical passions. Undeterred by perceived language barriers, her discography ranges from the powerful pop of her Miami Sound Machine era through more recent material like the inventive BRAZIL305. Among her legions of fans, 1993’s Spanish-language Mi Tierra remains one of her most beloved albums, its celebration of classic Cuban sounds laid out like a love letter to the past. On Raices, she returns once more to those titular roots, albeit with another few decades of artistry under her proverbial belt. The title track serves as its raison d’être, invoking both heritage and timelessness as core characteristics. With so many contemporary Latin artists looking to the Caribbean for inspiration, Estefan’s knowing yet exploratory expressions offer an expansive vision of what many would call tropical music. A seminal salsa spirit carries “La Vecina (No Sé Na’),” while “Cómo Pasó” reminds of her bolero mastery. Yet what might be the album’s most affecting moment is “Mi Niño Bello (Para Sasha),” a veritable lullaby for her grandson suitably presented in both English and Spanish.