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This is so sad. He was one of my favorite guitarists. Jason McGuire played cajon on his album here in the states (and played a bit of guitar too). I am bummed out about this. His album has a special place in my heart. I studied that thing and enjoyed it when immensely when I first got into flamenco. La Faraona and Carlos within days. Such a bummer. QEPD!!!!
Listening to the album now It is a classic recording - one of the first I really got into as well - will always remain a favourite guitarist .. Glad David Chesky had the foresight to record that album - also someone I greatly admire for his way of recording - he goes against the modern grain in someways - natural compression, natural room reverb - no bells and whistles ... Captured a great energy and sound on that album
Sad news indeed - very little documentation of his work - some friends here spent several months with him as their teacher - all feeling devastated
Oh wow that is terrible. He was not that old. Great player. It will be a sad time in Las Tres Mil.
quote:
Listening to the album now It is a classic recording - one of the first I really got into as well - will always remain a favourite guitarist .. Glad David Chesky had the foresight to record that album - also someone I greatly admire for his way of recording - he goes against the modern grain in someways - natural compression, natural room reverb - no bells and whistles ... Captured a great energy and sound on that album
I think they used poor judgment on that recording. It's not sorted out very well and the singers are not recorded well, but it's better than nothing. I think they screwed him over sonically. Despite the poor recording he shines out.
Apparently he recorded a second album, too - Kieren Ray from Melbourne told me he heard the whole thing while taking lessons from Carlos about 15 years ago. Not much chance of hearing it now.
Carlos had a enough material for a solo career, but he did not go that way.
I wanted to clarify why I think the recording with Chesky did not serve him well. It is because at the time other now famous guitarists were producing polished studio albums that showed how well they played solos and at the time that was the name of the game to break into a bigger market.
The Chachipen record stands a great document, but a polished mixed out and well produced studio recording may have been better for him. One thing the recording has that later studio albums often lack is the palmas and cajon are not "clap tracked" ~ that stuff is live and kicks ass. I only wish it was mixed more formally, or that there was the choice between this raw sounding 'room of flamenco' and a parsed out version with a mic on each person.
Carlos had beautiful colors and space in this tone and I don't think this recording was radio worthy to fully show those colors. As great as the performers are.
Anyway water under the bridge. I'm really sad about this as I liked the guy and even though hanging around the Carboneria where he often played was not the deepest part of flamenco, it was special to me to see him play there. I learned a tremendous amount about the guitar and attack and sound listening to him play in a crowded noisy room and silence them.
It was a time and place. I feel sad for his family and community, he was an important man in that community.