The Whole Music Experience

World   Vasco Hernández Luz De Otro Manera   Arc Music   From a healing and psycho-acoustic perspective I know that flamenco isn’t the most uplifting music in the world.   However, the music has cathartic potential in the way that blues, or even rock music has and I recommend flamenco music for working through stronger emotions (play this music for your angst-ridden teen).   Besides, the intricate guitar with its thick strums, husky vocals, and complex rhythms entrances us.   Some people find flamenco music romantic as it exudes the passionate life of people who live on the fringes of society.   As we get trapped in our everyday 9 to 5 worlds, wild abandonment possesses an appeal. Self-taught flamenco guitarist Vasco Hernández brings that romantic and primal world to us on his recording, Luz De Otro Manera (Another Kind of Light).   Hearty music burst forth from this CD. And we hear an atmosphere of palmas (hand claps), glob...

Gabriel Ayala & Will Clipman Passion, Fire & Grace Canyon Records I spent the weekend fighting off a lung infection. Fortunately, Yaqui classical/flamenco guitarist Gabriel Ayala and master percussionist Will Clipman’s recording Passion, Fire & Grace arrived in my mailbox. I listened to the recording several times over the weekend, even hitting the replay button. And at times I had wished for a long-play or a double CD because I found the music here enticing, healing, and comforting. There’s nothing worse than dealing with a sickness when you’re alone, and music can often bring comfort as this recording did. The recording supplies its listeners with plenty of flamenco guitar including renditions of work by nuevo flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucìa ( Entre Los Aguas ) and a younger flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo. Most of the work here was composed by Ayala from the catchy opener Sonoran Nights to the nuevo flamenco piece Allegro that closes the CD. Native ...

Adam del Monte Asì lo siento yo Self-release I’ve found over the years that flamenco music must possess authentication, either the musician was born into an Andalusian family of flamenco origins or lived in Andalusia at some point and studied with the flamenco masters. Years of listening, observing and practicing flamenco follow until the flamenco musician is ready to strike out on his or her own with enough passion in tow. Flamenco more than anything revolves around feelings and emotions. A musician might have the chops, but if he or she can’t take you to that place called duende, then the musician loses the heart of flamenco. Today you will find both old flamenco with its rustic pastiche and nuevo flamenco pioneered by Tomatito, Paco de Lucia and others. You’ll even hear flamenco fused to Cuban son, rock and jazz music. So how does someone such as me, not trained in flamenco, review a flamenco album? I’ve probably journeyed to the place of duende several times as a music ...

Mayte Martin Alcantara Manuel World Village Mixing jazz, Latin American new song and flamenco Spanish guitarist/vocalist Mayte Martin celebrates the poetry of Manuel Alcàntar. The flamenco that appears on Alcantara Manuel could be described as passionate, but more melancholic than fiery. The emphasis appears to be on the text and vocals which are framed by 2 guitars (right and left channels), double-bass, percussion and violins with Martin’s voice caressing each word with soulful emotions. I’m reminded of the late Argentine new song performer Mercedes Sosa who also has the gift of igniting text with her emotive voice. Martin also possesses a powerful and sensitive alto voice. And both performers extract the soulfulness of the Spanish language while employing it as a powerful tool that travels into the hearts of their listeners. I actually had to research the Spanish prize-winning poet Manuel Alcàntar whose poems featured on this album focus on death, the sea, heartache, wa...

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...

  Missing image Diego Amador rio de los canasteros World Village The first time I saw jazz-flamenco fusion piano was when I watched the Latin music documentary Calle 54 several years ago. I found Spanish jazz pianist Chano Dominguez's flamenco fusion breathtaking. The next time I heard piano performed on a flamenco recording was on a piece by Estrella Morente where she sang over solo piano. Again, I found the inclusion of piano on a flamenco piece stunning, even amazingly beautiful. The multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Diego Amador also marries jazz and flamenco piano. But he does not just play piano on his CD rio de los canasteros , he also plays guitar, sings, and plays bass. It's not so far-fetched that he would eventually fuse Latin jazz with Andalusian music. His first musical stint while he was still a child, was playing drums for his older brothers' flamenco-rock band, while honing his talents on piano and other instruments. His first CD on the World Vil...