Pianist Omar Sosa and violinist-vocalist Yilian Cañizares have come together to create Aguas, a very beautiful and personal album. Featuring their compatriot, percussionist Inor Sotolongo, Aguas reflects the perspectives of two generations of Cuban artists living outside their homeland, interpreting their roots and traditions in a subtle and unique fashion. Songs range from the poignant to the exuberant, and are expressive of the exceptional musical chemistry, poetic sensibilities, and originality of the artists.
Recorded in 1973, this album signified a leap in the popularity of Paco de Lucía. With this recording, a new cycle of his career began. The Algeciran found himself at a level of technical and stylistic perfection never previously reached by any Flamenco artist. As much in creative as interpretative terms the level of maturity of the young guitarist brought to fruition an astonishing array of means of expression. Paco de Lucía achieved international as well as national recognition with the release of this album, owing greatly to the popularity of the rumba ‘Entre Dos Aguas’, which was only added at the last minute because only seven tracks had been recorded for the album up to that point.
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.