Flamenco

Some of Flamenco's most beloved compositions, performed by the genre's undisputed King, Carlos Montoya. Flamenco Magic is a set of recordings from 1980 containing many of Montoya’s best and most beloved works. The tracks featured are all performed unaccompanied, casting a rare undiluted spotlight on his virtuosity.

Jazz and flamenco first crossed paths not in Spain, but in the USA when Miles Davis and arranger/composer Gil Evans recorded “Sketches of Spain” in November 1959 and March 1960. It became one of the most successful jazz albums of all time. And the jazz musicians in Spain? They attempted to emulate – as did their colleagues world-wide – the American model. Jazz stood for open-mindedness; national folklore was thought of as too parochial. Spanish saxophonist Pedro Iturralde was the only musician who, under the influence of “Sketches of Spain”, added a couple of flamenco melodies to his repertoire as he toured Europe accompanied by two Germans and a Swiss. That’s why Joachim-Ernst Berendt sought him out to play at the 1967 Berlin Jazz Festival. With the festival’s motto “Jazz Meets the World”, Berendt was looking for a jazz-flamenco combination to fit the bill.

It is 40 years since the Andalusian guitarist Paco Peña played at Wigmore Hall and became a star. This recital betrays no weakening of his extraordinary powers, fiery imagination or rhythmic intensity.

In 2003 Pianist Sergio Monroy releases his first album, ‘Monroy’, which reflects his musical restlessness with regards to flamenco and jazz. He has collaborations on the recording by musicians such as Javier Ruibal and Miguel Poveda. From then on he shapes a stable group to do the album’s live tour with. The official presentation took place at the Fine Arts Circle in Madrid on September 22nd. The record is showcased at forums such as the Vic Live Music Festival, Cádiz Spanish Music Festival, El Monte’s Flamenco Thursdays, at the University of Seville. Outside of Spain, at the Evernaar Theater in Rotterdam and La Línea Festival in London. Moreover, he collaborates with baile companies such as those of Javier Latorre, Andrés Marín and Ángeles Gabaldón, besides with groups influenced by flamenco such as El Barrio and Maíta Vende Cá.

Silence-Light is flamenco percussionist and composer Nacho Arimany’s debut album. The great creativy and power of Javier Vercher is present on saxophone and percussion atmospheres. Lionel Loueke is on amazing guitars from Africa and other galaxies; joined with his personal and unique voice. Pablo Suarez supports the melodies with the piano; the flamenco harmony going beyond his own gipsy soul. The great voice and talent of the flamenco gipsy singer Antonio Campos and the superb jazz bass sound of Massimo Biolcati, work in real tandem with flamenco dancer Concha Jareno, who gives new percussive melodies and feelings to the music. This fantastic group of musicians got together to record at Systems Two Studio in New York in the Spring of 2006. This work is a journey through different worlds and feelings. The real compromise with music as an experience to share in freedom.