Carlos Slim Diego Osorno

During the Great War, tanks in the German Army merely played an anecdotal role. Due to the Treaty of Versailles restrictions, the first armoured forces were not organised (secretly) until 1933. …

Juan Diego Flórez' passion for Latin American music started at an early age, when he was still a child. It was a deep and lasting passion and his initial encounter with it turned into a lifelong passion. “I grew up with vals criollos, Marineras, boleros, rancheras and tangos, magnificent songs from Latin America,” says tenor star Juan Diego Flórez. Now, he documents his love for Latin American music on a very personal CD.

The Spanish tinge referred to by pianist Jelly Roll Morton has never been far from jazz, though serious attempts to fuse flamenco and jazz only began with saxophonist Pedro Iturralde and guitarist Paco de Lucia's collaboration Flamenco-Jazz (SABA, 1968). Tenor saxophonist Carlos Villoslada continues this tradition by bringing together jazz melodies and harmonies with flamenco rhythms and voice. For the most part, the music on this recording has a relaxed vibe, with the Cadiz-based quintet visiting soleas, bulerias, tientos and tanguilos with a quietly smoldering passion, led from the front by Villoslada's strong playing. Despite the absence of guitar the flavor of flamenco permeates these compositions, with vocalist Raul Gálvez supported by Diego Moatoya and Pedro de Chana on palmas, Dani Dominguez' striking, hybrid jazz-flamenco drumming, and veteran Brazilian percussionist, Rubem Dantas.