Flamenco Primer

Dolores Vargas and Lola Flores are more in the style of Flamanco but still still quite dramatic.

I believe the singer "El Chocolate" may still be alive. Anyone traveling to Madrid should seek him out. He used to perform there often. He played NYC maybe 10 years ago. A truly great voice and performer. Think Son House.

Camaron was probably the greatest male singer since the classic era of Flamanco. A powerful and soulful voice. I believe he was pure gitano. Unfortunetly he died way to early in life. His guitarist TOMATITO is one of the few flamanco guitarists from the 80's worth checking out.

Intrestingly enought, every flamanco performance I witnessed in Spain, and I believe I was taken to hear some of the best singers of the day,(from 1981-96)never included dancing or SOLO guitar music. One voice and one guitar only...ever! The gitano attitude was that flamanco dancing was for the tourists and that flamanco style guitar playing (without a vocalist) was nothing more than buzzing in the ears. I'm still perplexed by that thought, but I do see the point.

I have to say that almost anything on the Spanish Belter label is interesting and worth hearing. I have never been sorry purchasing the discs. They can be found on the cheap anywhere in Spain.

VG

Intersting: I do love the claps and percussion sounds from the tap dance, I think they add something that is musical and complement to the guitar/vocal lines even if there might not be an obvious technique to it - never seen a flamenco performance but wd always thought, since the music sounds danceable, that there would be dancing to it - I would like to see dancing on the theater stage.

I can see the point about solo guitar performance.

Love Manolo Caracol and La Nina De Los Peines recordings with one guitar ONLY -- completely switched my way of thinking above and would probably avoid taps and claps (hardly listen to the Paco Pena record that was the starting point for this thread).

Definitely need to hear more singers with ONE gtr format. Will source some Camaron and Pavon next.

Would be open to vocal duets with one guitar...right now I'm not sure whether that's a great idea or disaster.

Those Paco Pena/Camaron albums (listening to their first recorded encounter first form '69) are today's obsession

Listening to this, again one gtr and voice format (and a few claps) but he varies his vocals quite a bit, seems like there is some added lyricism. But that could be more noticeable because tracks are generally longer -- as oposed to Caracol and de los Peines, who were recording at an era which probably restricted for how long they could do it for, which meant they had to cram a lot more in.

(first posted about wanting to listen to this rec 7 years ago, where has all the time gone sheesh)

RIP Paco de Lucía

whoa I totally missed this! RIP paco, you had the quickest fingers and exuded reams of testosterone & dignity esp when looking bored by yr own virtuosity. idk if you were a fascist but you were beautiful as hell & i loved your hair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TmxfHbd-M0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKtAhJPZS6o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W74IVr_90CQ

In honor of Paco de Lucia's passing and in the spirit of the thread title we will provide a list of his illustrious predecessors, a kind of Mount Rushmore of flamenco if you will.

Ramón Montoya
Niño Ricardo
Diego del Gastor
Sabicas
Mario Escudero

Carlos Montoya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv2Fyjk0GGM

I'm mostly just in love with Paco De Lucia's Fuente Y Caudal album at the moment, so am very appreciative of James Redd's Mount Rushmore of flamenco post from a few years back. I have had previous infatuations with classical Spanish/Baroque before without delving into any modern stuff.

his guitar trio w/ McLaughlin is so good as well.

Some good Flamenco dancers you can see - or take lessons from!- in NYC:
Marina Elana
Bárbara Martínez

Thanks to whoever recommended the documentary about flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla on Netflix. Great on his life and music (obviously) but also deeply informative on the history and philosophy of the Romani. pic.twitter.com/N6CbBc76RY

— Andrew Male (@Andr6wMale) April 5, 2022

thanks to this thread for pointing me to nino ricardo

Pavon had some range...just never got round to him till now. All that lost time.

https://www.expoflamenco.com/en/bordonazo-new/grandpa-remembers-tomas-pavon/

"He didn’t sing, he prayed. When he sang he’d put his hands together like if he were praying"

I missed Tomatito last night at City Center.

I love the flamenco/jazz fusion of Camaron's song Leyenda del tiempo. Anyone have recommendations for stuff along these lines? It cooks! The bass playing is stellar, it's got funky flute... so good.

MIngus' "Ysabel's Table Dance"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGsVqF-URXc

^classic!