Self - Portrait by El Javi Trio

Desatino by Tino van der Sman

Brook Zern on Flamenco - WFMU show from 2004

Here's a really fantastic show, and a long one at that, from that flagship of radio cool. This is probably a good show if you know just a bit about Flamenco and want to learn more, and a really great show if you do know something about the music. All kinds of musical examples are played with plenty of pre-Paco de Lucia for you roots focused people. Brook talks about music theory, the song forms of Flamenco, murky origins of Flamenco, links to American Blues and Spanish music.
Also some interesting discussion of the origins of solo guitar in Flamenco, Sabicas and the like could not do the solo guitar thing in Spain, but in America it was accepted.

 

Visit Brook Zern HERE

WFMU link

   

Paco de Lucia (21 December 1947 – 25 February 2014)

At the risk of sounding like ‘one of those people,’ flamenco music is the purest most authentic music for the guitar.  I usually chuckle when it comes to discussions, debates and assertions about authenticity.  It’s such an academic exercise with so much subjective bias that I’m quickly bored with it.

There are arguments made all the time about the purity and authenticity of flamenco.  The irony is that you will find arguments in the community that it has morphed and changed and is no longer pure and just as many saying change is inevitable, without it flamenco dies, therefore the new stuff is still pure and authentic because it’s simply evolution.  But that isn’t really what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the perfect genre for the guitar.

String buzz is used purposefully by flamenco guitarists.  I don’t hear it as a detriment to the music as so many do, it’s a part of it, it’s a sound that the guitar is capable of making, so don’t shun it, don’t over-do it, embrace it.  Other techniques the flamencos use: sliding, hammer-ons, pull-offs.  And then there is the rasgueado, a technique still confined primarily to flamenco and yet seemingly so right for the guitar.  And dissonance, for those of you that like that in your American Primitive playing, try listening to Callejón De Las Canteras by Tomatito.  The Taranta form of flamenco is amazing and beautiful.

Flamenco not prissy, board-up-the-ass classical, though it can display all the touch and tone of classical if it wants too.  Andrés Segovia tried to remove the use of rasgueado from the classical school, considering it to have been developed "in the noisy hands of the gypsies."  Flamenco may be the most challenging style of guitar music to learn.

Flamenco uses the guitar’s natural percussive qualities with some tapping, thumping and string buzz.  But at the same time it isn’t centered on that style.  Michael Hedges and Don Ross, sure that’s great stuff.

The flamencos knew the value of percussion 100 years ago.

And, it’s natural, no thumbpick, no flatpick.  Fingers and nails.  Strings and wood and glue.  And soul.

All of this of course has its roots in necessity.  The gypsies were resourceful if not resource laden.  That shaped the way the guitar was played and it’s still there today.  Ah! So the purity is retained!?

And as South American and Cuban influences crept into the music they were again resourceful in saving what might have been a fading folk music by injecting subtle influences.  Paco de Lucia turned it upside down, adding new harmonies and even new instruments.  The cajon was adopted by Paco and is now considered very flamenco and nearly every flamenco performance will have one. Pure  and authentic, or not?

For me that is not the question, because it is still about how the guitar is played.  That hasn’t changed.

Ever since I discovered flamenco music I've been drawn to it.  Primarily the solo stuff, but with a band as well.  It seems to be the music that was meant for the guitar.  It has the power of rock and roll, the pain and sadness of the blues, it has it all.  The guitar in its natural state.  The guitar is incredibly adaptable but for me, flamenco is where all of its natural and best qualities are in perfect balance.

Paco de Lucia has passed out of this world.  If you've never listened to flamenco, give it a try.  Download a Paco concert HERE.



Paco de Lucia & Ensemble
Stadthalle Braunschweig, March 3rd 1988


DISC ONE

01 Callejon del Muro (Minera)
02 Gloria al Niño Ricardo (Soleá)
03 El Pañuelo (Bulerías)
04 La Barrosa (Alegrías)
05 improvisación sobre el intro de 'Callejon del Muro' y Rumba
06 Gitanos Andaluces (Bulerías)
07 Casilda (Tanguillos)
08 La Cañada (Tangos)

DISC TWO

01 band introduction
02 Rondeña
03 solo de flauta>Alegrías de baile (letras y subida)
04 Alegrías de baile (escobilla y coletilla)
05 Alta Mar
06 encore: Buana Buana King Kong

    

                   

Scott Wolf - All Strings Considered Podcast

Guitarist Scott Wolf is being widely recognized for his versatility as a performer, teacher, and arranger for classical guitar. Scott most recently received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, where he studied classical guitar with renowned pedagogue and Los Angeles Guitar Quartet member Scott Tennant. He earned a Master of Music from New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Eliot Fisk and received his Bachelor of Arts at UC San Diego with Dr. Randy Pile.

So begins the bio of Scott Wolf.  Good stuff!  He's also got a nice little podcast going, they are focused on classical and I find the interviews with the flamenco guitarists especially exciting.  Go check it out, but there's one with Adam Del Monte and one with Grisha Goryachev.   The podcasts are really well produced, absolutely pro quality.

All Strings Considered
   

Dave Holland & Pepe Habichuela Flamenco Quintet

I had my doubts when I first saw this collaboration.  Assuming another flamenco fusion release was going to disappoint me with it's predictable sound.  But I was very pleasantly surprised by what turns out to be a very traditional effort.  It's predictable, but not in the fashion I was expecting, and that's ok with me.  This is very traditional flamenco, by today's standards, with the addition of Dave Holland's bass.  Holland has clearly decided to embrace flamenco and try to shape his art to it, instead of the other way 'round.  This is much more traditional that anything Paco de Lucia is doing out on the road right now.  So if you want to hear something that nods in respect to the traditions but soulfully adds to the genre I'd give this a listen.


Dave Holland & Pepe Habichuela Flamenco Quintet feat. Josemi Carmona - Tampere Jazz Happening, 2011-11-04
Restaurant Telakka, Tampere, Finland

line-up
• Dave Holland, bass
• Pepe Habichuela, first guitar
• Josemi Carmona, second guitar
• Bandolero, percussion
• Juan Carmona, percussion


setlist:
01 - Intro - 0:46
02 - YESQUEROS - 6:48
03 - announcement - 1:01
04 - SANDENGO - 7:01
05 - announcement - 0:16
06 - THE WHIRLING DERVISH - 9:57
07 - announcement - 0:16
08 - TORRENTOS - 6:40
09 - 5:21
10 - announcement - 0:29
11 - TEN GROOVE - 5:20
12 - BAILOAR - 12:02
13 - announcement - 0:32
14 - EL RITMO ME LLEVA - 7:53
15 - announcement - 0:07
16 - TANGOS. - 5:22
____________________
Total Time: 69:51



Download it HERE - Cover art included.

Enjoy
   

Colorado Guitar Festival Report

Just a brief report about the Colorado Guitar Festival from yesterday.  It was a great bunch of guitarists that took the stage, the weather was perfect and even a slight bit of rain was short lived.

Jeff Wahl

 All kinds of styles were represented, Jeff Wahl with some great modern acoustic playing with roots in Kottke and even his days as a heavy metal guitarist.

Kevin Romero

 Kevin Romero brought flamenco to the stage with cante and palmas!

Justin Roth

 Justin Roth bucking the trend of sitting performers that dominated the day.  Hey!  It's cool.

Michael DeLalla

 DeLalla was his usual entertaining self.  Always witty and always firing off great runs with precision.

Steve Mullins is always pushing the boundaries of genre, here taking a page from the Gipsy Kings style but adding tablas.  Hey, why not?  Later adding a dancer from Seville!!

There were luthiers and artists as well as good food and drink to round out the day.  The Boulder Guitar Society opened the day strong with 6 quality guitarists.  Alfredo Muro was one of the headliners and I've got to insist that you go see him if you have a chance.  Phenomenal!  In fact he will be on a brief European tour in September.

All were had by a good time.

Press Release: The 2nd Annual Colorado Guitar Festival

The 2nd Annual Colorado Guitar Festival

When: Aug. 11th 2012, from 1:00-9:00pm

Where: Willow Farm, 11898 N. 75th St. Longmont CO 80503, In the town of Hygiene (northeast of Boulder, just west of Longmont).

With performances by The Colorado Guitar Quartet, Alfredo Muro, The Steve Mullins Trio, Jeff Wahl, Michael DeLalla, Justin Roth, and more.

A variety of musical styles will be represented; classical, jazz, Brazilian, Spanish Flamenco, acoustic fingerstyle, etc.   The Boulder Guitar Society will be hosting an open stage for its members (and others) to open the event.  Guitar builders will be displaying their creations.  Food and beverages will be available on-site, with beer donated by Oskar Blues.  Proceeds will benefit the Willow Farm non-profit, and an upcoming medical trek to Nepal.

$20 day-pass, $16 for students/seniors, children 12 and under free.

For more information visit www.coloradoguitarfestival.com or www.willowfarmcolorado.org. 

Guitar Festival Performance Schedule (2012)

1:00-2:30 Guitar Society open stage

2:45-3:20  Jeff Wahl

3:30—4:05 Kevin Romero

4:15—4:50  Justin Roth

5:00—5:35 Michael DeLalla

5:45—6:25 The Steve Mullins Trio

6:35—7:15 Alfredo Muro

7:25-8:05 Colorado Guitar Quartet

8:15-9:00 or 9:15 Guitar Alliance (Alfredo Muro, Steve Mullins, Kevin Garry, Kevin Romero)

Bios 

Colorado Guitar Quartet

The Colorado Guitar Quartet features Benjamin Altman, Ben Cantu, James Cline and Kevin Garry—each holds a doctorate in music from esteemed universities and maintain active careers as recording artists, concert artists and educators. All four are accomplished soloists and chamber musicians: Mr. Altman has appeared as the featured soloist with the Macon Symphony in Georgia; Mr. Cantu has performed in the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine; Mr. Cline has been heard premiering new works on KVOD’s ‘Colorado Spotlight,’ and Mr. Garry has performed in the Colorado Music Festival. Recent and upcoming appearances for the recently formed Colorado Guitar Quartet include Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts, Universal Unitarian Concert Series, Sheridan College and Front Range College. Their virtuosic and delightful programs include works ranging from Bach to Bizet to Piazzolla.

Alfredo Muro

Alfredo Muro has been described as a Latin virtuoso, but his musical styles and tastes are far more versatile, ranging from standard classical repertoire to jazz. His forte is South American music in its many guises: folk, jazz, Brazilian, classical. Whatever the style, it’s the emotional content of his music that carries the day. Portland Guitar Society

Alfredo Muro has presented concerts in many venues throughout the United States. He had the privilege to be the featured artist at the Kennedy Center for the Millennium Concert Series in Washington D.C, at Benaroya Hall in Seattle and at The Smithsonian Museum.

In March of 2005, Alfredo Muro was selected for the Jack Rosenberg Memorial, Musician of the Month Award, by the Jazz Society of Oregon in their Jazzscene magazine. The Centinela Newspaper in Portland, Oregon, featured Mr. Muro as the “Hispanic of the Month”. The Hispanic Yellow Pages Directory introduced him as the “Pride of the Hispanic Community”.

Justin Roth

Justin Roth is a nationally touring singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist, based in Fort Collins, CO, who combines an artful blend of hooks laid on a bed of brilliantly inventive guitar technique for a unique mix of acoustic indie folk.  Justin has toured with Red House recording artist John Gorka and has opened for some of the finest singer/songwriters on the acoustic music scene, including Shawn Colvin, Martin Sexton, Lucy Kaplansky, Darrell Scott, and David Wilcox.  Equally, his guitar playing has earned him shared stages with some of the greatest fingerstyle players of today, such as Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, Billy McLaughlin, California Guitar Trio and Pat Donohue.  He has sold over 11,000 copies of his five independent CDs as well as being a core contributor to an instrumental solo guitar album produced for Target Stores, entitled Lifescapes - Solo Guitar, which has sold over 70,000 copies nationwide.  Justin's fan-funded new album, Now You Know, which he engineered, produced, played and sang every note himself in his bedroom studio, was released in May 2011.  It has since been voted as one of the Top 100 Folk Albums of 2011 by Roots Music Report.

Jeff Wahl

Jeff's music has been featured often on local and national public radio programs during the last several years. Upon release of his first CD, Guitarscapes in 1999, Jeff was named one of America's best undiscovered guitarists by Guitar 9 Record's online guitar magazine.

Steve Mullins

“Not only does Steve play classical guitar beautifully, he is also a master of a number of guitar styles. I have never met a guitarist who is as musically acute (he has an amazing “ear”). His flamenco playing could be said to be virtuosic, but this is not what motivates him. Rather he is a master of the expressive arts and guitar is his instrument.” (Brenda M. Romero, Associate Professor of Musicology, University of Colorado, 2011)

Steve Mullins has earned a bachelor’s degree in American Folk Music, a master’s in musicology, and a doctorate in ethnomusicology from the University of Colorado.   He has taught Latin America music, World Music, World Music Theories, and American Indian Music at CU, and currently teaches World Guitar at Front Range Community College.  His doctoral dissertation is entitled Flamenco Gestures: Musical Meaning in Motion 

Michael DeLalla

In a performing and recording career of more than two decades, guitarist and composer Michael DeLalla has brought to the forefront of acoustic music his delicious brew of traditional influences from around the world, steeped with his classical training and seasoned with his jazz, Celtic and folk stylings. Beginning in the '80s as the driving force behind Philo/Fretless recording artists Oxymora, the seminal group that Tom Cole of National Public Radio called "the cutting edge of New Acoustic Music", Michael has forged a distinguished and storied career on stage and studio from his fluency on classical, 12-string, and steel-string acoustic guitar and memorable performances that showcase gifted improvisation and dazzling technical facility that never sacrifices the richness and poignancy of his compositions.

Artist photos available on request and at www.coloradoguitarfestival.com

Seeking Silverio, The Birth of Flamenco by Paco Sevilla - Book Review

This historical fiction work is a nice little way to cover early flamenco history without rattling off endless dates and dry facts.

There is a lot of Spanish phrases throughout the book and all are immediately translated to English in parentheses following the sentence.  Excellent for me, providing a taste of the language and a clear meaning in English.  All song (cante) lyrics are also presented in both languages.

The author also provides footnotes for important details related to the ongoing narative.  It took me a couple chapters to realize that there are notes at the end of the book for each chapter.  Once caught up on those I found it very informative to read the notes after each chapter.  The author speaks to the fact or fiction question of each chapter.

If you just want to read it as a novel it works well that way too.  The writing flows well and is relaxed.  Perfect for a good yarn about three boys setting out on an adventure to seek their fame and fortune.  And that's just what this is, an adventure story.  It is the late 1800's after all and the Spanish country-side isn't the safest place to be wandering about with nothing at your disposal but a guitar, a few songs and your wits.

This is the second of Paco Sevilla's books I've read.  I would also recommend his book about Paco de Lucia.  He has several other books at his website as well.  The books don't seem to be readily available anywhere else but I have had excellent service ordering from his site so I can recommend that without hesitation.  Only issue is the site seems to kick the browser over to a flamenco webring site on occasion, no idea why, just hit the link again, it will usually behave.

Buy it here

Acoustic Guitar Legends: John Fahey & More!

I just got my December issue of Acoustic Guitar in the mail, it should be hitting the stands any minute now and this month looks to be a hat trick for the Delta-Slider crowd.
Up first is a John Fahey lesson.  You can read it online and watch the video lessons here:
Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Legends: John Fahey Lesson

That covers the American Primitive.

Next up is Mississippi John Hurt, that covers the blues!  Who doesn't want to learn to play like John Hurt? Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Legends: Mississippi John Hurt Lesson

And rounding out the triple threat is a Paco de Lucía lesson!  Holy flippin' Phrygian scale, Batman!  I love when flamenco gets a little love from a big boy guitar magazine.  Here in the States that is uncommon. Be sure to check out the video lesson for this one just to see the old-school flamenco guitar.  Acoustic Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Legends: Paco de Lucía Lesson    How about that head stock with the friction tuning pegs?  Sweet!

That covers my favorites but AG isn't done, there's also lessons in the style of Norman Blake, Ani DiFranco and Paul Simon.

And look! A review of "Beyond Berkeley Guitar!" Acoustic Guitar: Various Artists, Beyond Berkeley Guitar

It's nice to see an issue of AG with so much Fahey and Fahey-related material in it.

And since the holidays are fast approaching there's a nice arrangement of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" by Happy Traum with a free TAB download.  Acoustic Guitar: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

By the way, I'm not getting anything to hawk AG magazine.  I just thought this was an exceptional issue that you might be interested in.

Juan Martin - BBC

Here is an excellent little BBC performance and interview with Juan Martin.


This is not strictly solo.  We have here a singer, dancer and a clarinet.  Clarinet?  Er...well, not bad actually.  Certainly better than the experiments I've heard with the flute in Flamenco music.  Don't care much for those.


The Flamenco guitar method mentioned in the interview can be found HERE on Amazon.  As a beginner in Flamenco I have found it to be a good purchase.  Tons of music to learn and all of played by Martin on the included CD, full speed and slowly.  The only issue with it is his rasgueo.  I don't know if it is the exaggerated effort of playing them so that the beginner can better hear what is happening with the technique or what.  But it is terrible.  Oh well.  As you will hear here, there is nothing wrong with his performance technique.  The book covers all the beginner topics including the care of the nails.  Here's a passage from the book.  

"It is vitally important not to expose nails to the drying action of detergents and soaps.  Washing up is out of the question."  

Hilarious!  I would love to meet the man but will probably refrain from shaking hands.  Well, Boulder saw a very successful show with Paco Pena, I sure would enjoy hearing Juan Martin.  Come on out Mr. Martin!


Get the show HERE!

Hmmm...doctored picture or has someone been "washing up?" 
Mighty clean looking hands for, what, 50 years of dirt?

Rahim Alhaj & Ottmar Liebert - Under the Rose

Ever since I heard Paco de Lucía play the oud on Almoraima I've been facinated with it's sound and it's place in modern flamenco music.

Ottmar Liebert (on guitar) and Rahim Alhaj on the oud have released an excellent effort. Also included are Jon Gagan (bass, keyboard), who also produced the CD, and Barrett Martin (percussion).

Free downloads of the music are available at Liebert's site, HERE.

I'm not sure why I like the oud so much but I've noticed that like a blues guitar, it cries and sings with so much feeling when the strings are bent.

Hope you enjoy it and be sure to visit the site, lots more info there.

Paco Pena concert review and bootleg of Boulder, Colorado Show

Paco Pena puts on a heck of a show. Though I knew that this show was not guitar-centric, I wasn't going to miss a chance at seeing flamenco of such a magnitude. So now I've seen Paco Pena and Paco de Lucia. I would just like to see de Lucia again because when I saw him it was with John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola. Not that that was chopper liver, it just wasn't flamenco!

Anyway, the show featured dancing very prominently. It was great to get to see Ángel Muñoz, an excellent performer! My favorite parts of the show were Paco solo (one tune) and the two pieces he did with just him and one dancer.

Paco is off to Canada for the rest of the North American tour so you better check the schedule and get your tickets.

I did record the show and a few of the pieces came out pretty well, just a little shuffling here and there.

Download them here and please let me know what you think.
¡Olé!

Rene Heredia - Flamenco in the Americas

Spanish legend Sábicas has called René Heredia “the most sensational Flamenco guitarist in the United States.” His international recognition came when he was 17 and the incomparable flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya (Spain’s greatest dancer of this century) heard him play. She immediately took him to be her lead guitarist, and René toured many years doing concerts in the major capitals of Europe and the United States with the famous Amaya Ballet.
Artist website: http://reneheredia.com/
This is a fusion effort. Nice version of Sabicas' Fantasia Inca.
Buy Flamenco in the Americas