In review--Flamenco Americana Rising
Chris Burton Jàcome Levanto CBJ Music Guitarist Chris Burton Jàcome proves that we don’t have to travel to Spain to hear authentic flamenco, at least not authentic American flamenco. CBJ was on the road to becoming a rock musician but a fateful song on the radio performed by flamenco guitarist Gerardo Nuñez changed the American musician’s fate. His latest recording Levanto (I Rise) though is a culmination of years of academic study and hands-on education with Spanish gypsy musicians. The studio recording chronicles a flamenco stage production of Calo Flamenco (an American flamenco dance troupe from Arizona). And these musicians and dancers are caliente! I haven’t seen the live performance, but according to the press notes, the production sold out in New York with people lining up around the block, hoping to get a taste of this hot music. The recording features the dancers, singers and CBJ’s guitar with bass guitar, percussion, violin and palmas (clapping) filling...