Paleto -> RE: New to Flamenco...help please! (Apr. 25 2007 19:48:22)
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Hi Rudy, In many cases, those of us who have been studying flamenco for a while were hooked in by a particular artist or group of them performing. In my case, the strongest attractants to flamenco from my beginnings were the following: 1) Paco de Lucia - Siroco 2) Paco Pena - Azahara 3) El Pele and Vicente Amigo - Poeta de esquinas blandas, both the CD and what little video from the early 1990s of them that has surfaced. I brought back a VHS tape of those two with Moraito and Patxi Camara playing tabla that just hooked me for life. The reason for the first two is really that those two recordings were carried at a local Tower Records (this was about 1987 - 1988). The third (CD and video) was released in Spain in 1991 or so, when I was studying over there, specifically to learn flamenco guitar, but also I took classes at a university. You have to consider that you are entering this with certain unconscious ideas about music, and that whether you know it or not, you are imposing your taste on something that was conceived with its own aesthetic and that it emphasizes different aspects of music than what you have known previously. It will take some time to come to appreciate it. It took some time for that music to grow on me, the length of the compas (rhythm in bulerias, alegrias, solea, siguiriya etc.) made the phrasing longer than the typical pop stuff I was used to. But the depth of emotion and breadth of historical roots give an artist a lot to work with once a listener/guitarist can hear at least some of what is being communicated and can comprehend the work it took to be able to communicate it, that moment opens a new door. At first, I found the cante harder to appreciate, but I was patient, and I speak Spanish quite well, which helped me to begin to grasp it. However, by continuing to listen to cante, it really grew on me, and I now love hearing good cante. I played for a singer here in San Diego (about 6 months ago), with 3 dancers and another guitarist for a large event at a new, beautiful community being built and had the greatest experience, largely because the singer did such a good job (the dancers were stellar too). It was that moment which really crystalized my appreciation for cante. I also saw Duquende on tour with Paco de Lucia, probably 10 years ago now. I could really hear what Duquende was doing, and I was really amazed at his vocal control, it was another great moment for me and helped solidify an appreciation of cante. I suggest you buy 3 or 4 cds out of the following list and listen to them for a period of months. Allow them to grow on you. Use the internet to listen to other guitarists performing the same song forms you are hearing on the cds so you can begin to get a sense for the song form, as opposed to the "piece" on the CDs. Also, balance modern and traditional guitarists for the best understanding. Recommendations will abound, but ultimately you'll have to decide which CDs you buy. I would suggest that you consider among the following CDs, given that they cover a range of styles within flamenco: 1) Vicente Amigo - Un momento en el sonido - Very modern, but absolutely gorgeous, a fair bit of non-traditional flamenco instrumentation, tasteful in every regard in my opinion. Vicente might be the most musical, unique guitarist among everyone. 2) Gerardo Nunez - Jucal - Modern style playing, but little other instrumentation, strong throughout, especially nice taranta/solea por bulerias. Gerardo is brilliant, awesome technique and full of interesting ideas. 3) Paco Pena - Azahara or Arte y Pasion, more traditional playing, but with some gorgeous touches, exemplary of great playing within traditional style. Each also gives you an introduction to a wide variety of flamenco forms. 4) Paco de Lucia - Almoraima or Siroco, complex modern classics, well rooted in tradition, but paving the way for newer ideas. Paco has been the biggest influcence along with Manolo Sanlucar on mot of these other guitarists. 5) Tomatito - Rosas de amor, Barrio Negro or Aguadulce - For me, these are Tomatito at his best. Tomatito is liked by both traditional and modern guitarists, always tasteful and interesting, quite musical too. 6) Enrique de Melchor - Bajo la luna or Raiz flamenca - traditional flamenco guitar with other tasteful musical touches. Easy to like and musical. 7) Sabicas - Flamenco puro, 1961 - Earlier, but a well regarded classic. 8) Paco Cepero - Bordon y corazon - Another tasteful, traditional recording from a highly respected guitarist. 9) Nino Ricardo - Historia del flamenco 10) Moraito - Morao y oro or Morao, Morao - you may have to check several online stores before find available copies. Try finding them at these stores: http://www.flamenco-world.com http://www.deflamenco.com http://www.elflamencovive.es http://www.flamencon.com What Ricardo said is right on the money - easy to play classical on a flamenco, but not flamenco on a classical. I spent a lot of time thinking about this, please consider the advice. -Anthony
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