Miguel de Maria -> Nino de Pura and Flamenco Lite (Oct. 17 2005 17:03:56)
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I have to disclaim this that I only have heard Pozo y Caudal by Nino de Pura, but that album is pretty "lite". Sure, there are bulerias and even some cante jondo-like stuff, but for the most part it is very "commercial"--lots of backup singers and horns and catchy melodies. I have no problem with this, and actually I like the album. It is exciting and fun if you can get past the backup singers, whose presence sometimes is a bit too cheesy. And of course el Nino plays magnficiently, his everpresent picados soaring and his instrumental choruses hard to get out of your head. Actually, I wonder why there can't be more of this. In the "Flamenco Lite" category, you might put Nino de Pura and perhaps the Gipsy Kings and Ottmar Liebert and Jesse Cook. This type of music has proven to be very popular, at least here in the States. I like the Gipsy Kings, but in terms of instrumental music, there is a huge lack of quality. With as fun and catchy as Nino de Pura is, why couldn't he make a big hit over here if Esteban can? This is not meant to be a slam on Nino de Pura at all, but I see it as an opportunity. I don't question his credentials as a "serious" flamenco player, but with his style and abilities, I could see him making a lot of money and bringing flamenco to a lot of people who wouldn't otherwise be intersted. I mean, a lot of people's bulerias sounds like heavy metal, but when you hear Nino's, you cna't help but smile because of the humor he brings to it. Isn't bulerias supposed to have a twinkle in your eye? When you hear the pale imitations of flamenco around here, and then compare it to Nino de Pura, the level of quality is not even close... It would be cool if he or someone like him became popular over here and supplanted or at least threatened the rule of the "Flamenco Like" guitarists.
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