1.5 Who are some recommended flamenco guitarists to listen to? Flamenco Records
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This article is from the Flamenco for Classical Guitarists FAQ, by Joshua Weage (jpweage@mtu.edu) with numerous contributions by others.
1.5 Who are some recommended flamenco guitarists to listen to? Flamenco Records
Here is a list of flamenco music available. It came initially from a
letter to the group by one Michael P. Burns. Thanks Michael!
Flamenco Records
Most of the popular "flamenco" guitarists are not really playing
flamenco but rather "flamenco inspired" music. The Gypsy Kings
are real Gypsies but all their recordings focus only on one form,
the Rhumba, one of the least important flamenco forms. I have
posted a short list of flamenco recordings and am reposting it now
for those of you who are interested:
Here's a revised version of the Flamenco recordings list with
some additional notes and comments.
TITLE | ARTIST(S) | LABEL & No.
Azahara Paco Pen~a Nimbus NI5116
Guitar solos and duets (with Tito Losada) by one of the three
virtuoso Pacos
Music of R Montoya & N Ricardo Paco Pen~a Nimbus NI5093
Guitar solos of transcriptions of music by Ramon Montoya and
Nin~o Ricardo, two of the most influential guitarists of the
middle third of the 20th century. (Ramon was Carlos Montoya's
uncle and teacher)
Cante Gitano Various artists Nimbus NI5168
Recorded live at private Flamenco juerga in Moron de la Frontera
Singers: Maria Solea, Maria la Burra, Jose de la Tomasa
Guitars: Paco del Gastor, Juan del Gastor
Paco del Gastor is the third of the three virtuoso Pacos
(i.e, Paco Pen~a, Paco de Lucia and Paco del Gastor).
Cante Flamenco Various artists Nimbus NI5251
Recorded live at private Flamenco juerga in Moron dela Frontera
Singers: Gaspar de Utrera, Chano Lobato, Manuel de Paola,Miguel
Funi, El Cabrero
Guitars: Paco del Gastor, Juan del Gastor
Flamenco Paco Pen~a Phillips 826 904-2
Guitar solos, very good introduction to the main Flamenco styles
Cante Gitana OCORA C558642
Recorded live in concert in Paris and in studio. 2 CDs
Singers: Fernanda and Bernarda de Utrera
Guitar: Paco del Gastor
Fernanda and Bernarda are sisters of Gaspar (see above)
Los Malaguen~os Harmonia Mundi HMA 190965
Singers: Conchita and Nena Cano
Guitars: El Malaguen~o, Marino Cano
Several guitar solos and duets, three cuts with singers. Includes
a great rumba Flamenca and features some innovative harmonies
This would be a good sampler of Flamenco for a beginning
listener.
Music of R Montoya Manuel Cano Hispavox (no. ?)
Guitar solos. Most of the same pieces as on Paco Pen~a's CD with
a more restrained performance.
Guitarra Gitana Melchor de Marchena Hispavox 7304032584
Another of the greats of the previous generation in a rare solo
performance. Melchor was of the school that believed that the
role of the Flamenco guitar was an accompanist to the singer
and he did it better than anybody.
Flamenco Highlights from Spain Laserlight 79036
Contains some good examples of Sevillianas interspersed with
guitar solos by Sabicas, one of the greatest Flamenco
guitarists ever.
Zyryab Paco de Lucia Verve World 314 510 805-2
Sirocco Paco de Lucia Mercury (no. ?)
The two recordings by Paco de Lucia are a good taste of the
most avant garde Flamenco. Paco de Lucia is arguably the
greatest living virtuoso of Flamenco guitar. In these
recordings, especially "Zyryab", he admittedly goes beyond
the bounds of Flamenco into jazz, "world music" or call it
what you will. Anyway it's great music.
Le Chant du Monde: Grandes Figures du Flamenco Series
distributed by Harmonia Mundi
The "Grandes Figures du Flamenco" series is a treasure
trove of Flamenco tradition. These are re-masters of old
recordings on which the engineers have worked their magic to
increase the fidelity and remove hiss, pops, etc. I have nos.
6, 9 and 10 and the quality is very good, both technically and
artistically.
1) Pepe de la Matrona LDX 274 829
2) El Nin~o de Almaden LDX 274 830
3) La Nin~a de los Peines LDX 274 859
4) Terremoto de Jerez LDX 274 860
5) Ramon Montoya LDX 274 879
6) Carmen Amaya LDX 274 880
Flamenco song and dance, some selections feature Sabicas
as accompanist. Fantastic!
7) Manolo Caracol LDX 274 899
8) Manuel el Agujeta LDX 274 900
9) Antonio Mairena LDX 274 911
with Melchor de Marchena accompanying. It doesn't get any
better than this.
10) Pepe Marchena LDX 274 912
A singer in a style that was popular in the 1920's,
softer and more subtle. Paquito Simon and Ramon Montoya
accompanying.
-- Michael P. Burns
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