Flamenco

Almost overnight, the success of Ottmar Liebert's groundbreaking 1990 debut Nouveau Flamenco catapulted Higher Octave Music into one of the industry's top indie labels and introduced the instrumental world to a fresh, exotic sound unlike any other…

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.

Originally a flamenco player, Paco de Lucia helped to expand that music, folding in its complex harmonics and fluid sense of phrase and understatement. He expanded jazz by weaving in flamenco's more complex rhythms, organic melodies, and timbral slips. This 17-cut collection details de Lucia's development from the beginning of his second decade as a leader in 1965 to his more experimental and expansive period through the late '90s when he had come full circle and returned to flamenco properly. De Lucia's music was always rooted in flamenco even at its most adventurous; that thread was always audible, and this set proves that in a fascinating way. The music here can be jarring in its brilliance at times, but it is always clearly delineated and its purpose is direct, full of nuance, beauty, and fiery precision, as well as plenty of soul.

Since 1977, when he won the Ramón Montoya Prize for Concert Guitar in Cordoba, at the age of only fifteen, he has had a serious, consequent performing activity. An exquisite musician, composing and concert performance are important facets of his work, at live performances and in his record catalogue, although he has not ceased to accompany cante, as he is convinced that "it is very important for the solo guitarist to know the cante, because that is what provides firmness when playing alone". Riqueni has performed extensively as a concert guitarist and has played with people such as Enrique Morente, Anouar Brahem, Al Di Meola, Matías Fray and the Vargas Blues Band. He is also a noted flamenco composer, similar to the style of Albéniz and Turina. His 1987 album simply entitled "Flamenco", was recorded live without any special effects or recording studio tricks.

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.

Uno de los nombres destacados de la nueva generación de guitarristas flamencos, Santiago Lara, jerezano de 32 años, tiene ya prestigiosos premios como el de la Bienal de Sevilla y el 2º Premio Nacional de Arte Flamenco de Córdoba (2013). Productor, compositor y director musical, Santiago ha participado en las grabaciones del maestro Manolo Sanlúcar, así como en sus giras con orquesta. También es responsable de la música de la bailaora Mercedes Ruiz, a quien acompaña en sus giras mundiales. Como productor, además de sus primeros dos álbumes, Santiago ha realizado tres discos para cantaores de la nueva generación como son José Lara, Londro y David Lagos. Desde la vibrante versión de 'Minuano', que abre el álbum con la participación de Jorge Pardo o la vertiginosa 'James' con Antonio Serrano, emociona redescubrir un repertorio que ya abarca casi 40 años con un respeto y una creatividad que hacen honor al título.