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The other day day I was walking through a music store and heard music playing by different flamenco wanna be's. otmar liebert (spelling?), etc...I noticed that many of these pseudo flamencos not only lack everything flamenco but even the sound. However, later on I heard a cd by the gypsy kings in the same store. I am not a fan of the gypsy kings and know that they only play rumbas. But we have to admit ( us flamencos) that they have the flamenco sound and voice that all these other watered down flamenco artists lack. I recognize that the main guitarist from the gypsy kings comes from a flamenco family and this is perhaps the main reason they have that authentic sound, though commercialized. I wish they would play an alegrias or bulerias once in a while. I liked the sound of he flamenco the main guitarist played. Nice blanca sound. Anyone know what guitar he uses?
I guess he uses that cordoba gipsy kings electro-acoustic one ... the one with the narrow body. Right? You can find this guitar on the musician's friend website, but I don't know if that is the one he actually uses ...
They even have a Soleares on Luna de Fuego, with some Paco falsetas in it. You really should consider buying Mosaique and Luna de Fuego, they are my all-time favorites, especially latter one, its also interestingly recorded, an "acoustic jam session", maybe a little bit like a "juerga", where pple sit together and make music?
I love the rumba "Liberte". Tonino plays some absolutely Gorgeous melody lines, with great tone. Its very cool the way the work the drum kit into the bulerias. I think it kicks butt.
The tune "Serana", can't remember which album it is on, is a rumba rhythm, but they are singing a Granaina melody. They know a lot about flamenco, but they are not from a real "flamenco family". Watch the DVD "Tierra Gitana" to learn their history and about their family.
Do you recognize their newest member?
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Have you guys checked out their album "Roots"? It's mostly rumbas but it also has a buleria called "Bolerias". I haven't listened to the album in a while, so I can't remember if this is a typo or if it is a buleria in bolero key. There's also a couple of fandangos on the album as well.
Ricardo's reccommendation of Tierra Gitana is well worth watching. Lots of informal scenes of the Gipsy Kings jamming and singing stuff not found on their commercial albums. All of the Reyes brothers in the group have decent voices and it would kick ass if they could record some puro stuff. Some solea or taranta would be cool. They've got that lyrical quality to their voices which could be nice in a variety of palos if they can actually sing them.
I think guitar-wise Tonino Balliardo used to play a Conde. He plays one in the documentary. Also, the Felipe V shop has a signed group photo of the Gipsy Kings on their wall. Not sure what guitars they play now.
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