is there really a better south american guitarist than atahualpa yupanqui?

his instrumental music is magical. there's an incredible stillness to it that sucks in your focus, a soft, airless quiet and poise. his guitar playing is atmospheric & evocative, lyrical and effortless, with at times quite a strong spanish/classical influence, and an underlying fatalist melancholy. great on a sunday afternoon

bola sete might be more unpredictable, with higher peaks and stranger, darker depths, but for consistency and such strong, irresistible character, i'm picking atahualpa yupanqui

Like half of all the best classical guitarists in history are South American, as is p much every bossa nova guitarist, but am listening to Grabaciones Completas rn. What do you think is the best place to start?

there's lots of good stuff on that, he was very prolific and pretty consistent. my favourites are the older instrumental pieces from the 50s&60s and there are quite a few compilations of just instrumental tracks. pieces like vidala, huajra/guajira, el kachorro, danza de la luna, pastorale indienne, regreso del pastor, zamba del colalao, canada honda, malambo.

I suppose the greatness I'm identifying here is to do with an ability to distill and transport. chops are for the birds

this is the only one I have, but I like it, exactly in that timeframe you mention ('58) and strikingly formal in style and execution to my ears, I need to spend more time with it. good Sunday morning music.

https://img.discogs.com/p7UxZP0Lr8t5jDsUr_IFnfsM7_g=/fit-in/236x236/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-6621908-1423279097-6442.jpeg.jpg

yeah that's the good stuff

Guy seems p cool but I'm going to put forward Egberto Gismonti, Celso Machado, and Luiz Bonfa as three not-strictly-classical South American guitarists.

I like Bonfa but will check the others