Favorite Flamenco Guitarist

[NGiorgio]

I know that there are not too many flamenco aficionados out there. but I'd like to get some responses to this question.

Who is your favorite flamenco player? Let's keep this to living, active, performing and recording artists. And let's leave out Paco deLucia, who in my humble opinion, is in a class by himself.

I'll list my top five: (in no particular order)

Gerardo Nunez
Tomatito
Vicente Amigo
Moraito and
Adam delMonte .....

[portlandgreg2]

Even though I'm not a huge fan of jazzercised flamenco, I'd list Manolo Sanlucar as one of my favorites.

I'd also put Agustin Carbonell, Moraito and Vicente Amigo up there, too.

[dbiagini]

Well, as far as traditional flamenco goes Sabicas was the master. I was fortunate to have seen him perform serveral times before he death. Ramon Montoya wasn't too shabby, either.

Of the modern players I think I like Enrique de Melchor and Ramon Herandez the best. I gravitate toward melodic playing over pure speed and technique.

David

[DownUnder]

What about Oscar Herrero. I acquired a dvd called "Guitarra Flamenca paso a paso" by him. He's a pretty impressive player.

[edwardcav]

downunder: Where did you acquire it from, may I ask? Is it Region 4 pal?

everyone else as well as downunder i suppose:

Paco Peña is my fav flamenco.

[thaddeusb]

Ngiorgio,
I agree with you completely about paco being in his own class. I got to see him perform about 3 years ago and it was amazing. But, since I cant use him and Im sorry to say I dont own a whole lot of Flamenco(which im planning on changing) Im gonna have to go with Dennis Koster and Sabicas

thad

[dbiagini]

Ah, yes, Paco Peña. I almost forgot about him. And my teacher, Mariano Cordaba, is great for traditional flamenco.

[DownUnder]

edward: the dvd is multisystem PAL/NTSC. It comes in Spanish, English, French & Japanese language. I bought it from www.kslay.com (based in New Zealand) I later found out that it's much cheaper to buy it from www.flamenco-world.com (based in Spain) It will be a good buy as the oz dollar is pretty strong at the moment. The retail price for this dvd in Allans Music Store (Sydney) is AUD94.00.

[DownUnder]

edward: also... "Guitarra Flamenca paso a paso por Oscar Herrero" comes in 3 volumes. I have only seen the first volume.

[edwardcav]

Many thanks. I've actually bought through Khai before.

Thanks again

[Faya]

you guys pretty much coverd it for me. but i would also have to say Rodrigo(not the composer) for his pure raw energy, and my father who just passed away 2 months ago.there are also some graet new young guys from spain(Gerardo Nunez produced a cd with some of them on it) who are also enjoyable.

[NGiorgio]

Faya,

Speaking of young flamencos, have you heard about the 14 year old, Javier Conde. He has just won an award in Spain for best new flamenco guitarist. www.eflamenco.com/conde .There are some video clips etc. He is amazing.

Sorry to hear of your fathers passing.

[Faya]

NGiorgio, I had heard about him, but never seen him before.THANKS! Have you heard that Paco de Lucia has a new one coming out in the end of Jan. called "Cositas Buenas". Can't wait to hear it.

[edwardcav]

Wooo, that Javier Conde kid is really quite talented.

The sound quality of those clips do hi no justice, but - gee it boggles the mind to imagine what standard this kid is gonna play at when he is about 40 or 50!!!

thanks for the tipoff about the vids, NGiorgio 8)

[NGiorgio]

Yes, I am looking forward to Paco's new CD. Going to try to see him in concert while he is in the USA this year. This is supposed to be his last tour.

I think I have a CD by Rodrigo. Can't seem to find it. Doesn't he play very "old school" traditional?

[Faya]

Yes, really raw deep painfull gitano stuff.He's got a couple of cd's, but I always seem to see the one Gypsy passions all the time.

[NGiorgio]

Have you heard Pedro Sierra. Tremendous player, modern, technically awesome. I stumbled across his 7 minute video (with Oscar Herrero on second guitar) on Gerardo Nunez's website. It's on flamenco-world.com. When you get on Nunez, click guitar, then on line videos. There are a few videos there but Sierra's has great sound along with the video.

[Faya]

Ahh yes, one of my favorite websites. I love that stuff! Have you checked out the samples off that "La Nueva Escuela de la Guitarra Flamenca" CD?

[NGiorgio]

Yes, quite a bit of talent there. Thanks to Nunez and other greats who are teaching, there will be plenty of terrific new flamenco guitarists in the future.

[keith]

well i gotta go with sabicas as the best with runner ups being paco (yes runner up!) sanlucar (some of his stuff is good, some, well record companies can make you do weird stuff for a buck). just bought a c.d. of sanlucar titled the same--a little schmaltzy at times, but his playing is great. of course the old stuff; nino, diego, et.al provided a lot of great stuff--just too bad digital recording wasn't available back then.

[adrian]

We carry all three volumes of "Paso a Paso" here:

http://www.guitarsalon.com/store.php?it=VIFLAHE-03108

The second and third are under "Related Items'.

Adrian, GSI

[keith]

what a bummer--no one chose carlos montonya--and here is a major shock:

http://www.aloha.net/~mahalo/charo/recordings.html

yep, charo is acclaimed to be an expert classical and flamenco guitarist. she plays a ramirez, she plays leyenda, and she goes gooci gooci (or whatever).

all i can say to this is: WHOA!

[NGiorgio]

I don't want to comment on Charo's talents. I have seen her do a version of Lecuona's malaguena, and it was on a Ramirez.

Check out www.pacodelucia.org there is a video clip from his new CD and a group of photos showing him playing a guitar (blanca) which does not appear to be a Conde.

[keith]

it looks like the guitar is the paco de lucia signature model from vincente carillio. there was a bunch of chatter several months ago about this luthier. so what do have to say about charo's rendition of malaguena?

[NGiorgio]

I thought that may have been the guitar. Last year I played a Carrillo blanca, not the Paco model, and it was very nice. I did not think it was worth the price of $2600. Now they are $3200.

As for Charo, I don't think she sings very well, either .....

[keith]

hey nick, i saw in my flamenco connection catelogue the conde kid guitarist's c.d. yikes! of course, when paco was a kid, he too was a phenom. i guess it must be those pre-arthritic fingers :mrgreen: (as in green with envy). are you getting prepared for the 2nd go around of eskimo pie later today through friday?

has anyone heard the charo c.d.? how well does she do leyenda?

[NGiorgio]

I have not heard Charo's version of Leyenda.

Young Javier Conde plays a Conde guitar. How cool is that? I'm sure he has a few other guitars. I wonder if he can last. Accompany singers and dancers etc.

We had two inches of snow yesterday and if any of it is left by tomorrow, the side streets will be treacherous. Not looking forward to the next blast of cold, cold air. Trying to get ready for the Florida trip.

Any of the flamencos out there, let's hear of your favorites. What of Riqueni, Canizares, Habichuela, Sierra, Josele and others?

[keith]

one person i forgot that did some cool stuff is gino d'auri--his c.d. titled passion and duende--the use of a cello is kinda cool. just listened to sanlucar's c.d. of the same name--a couple of cool pieces but the other stuff is a little schmaltzy. looking forward to hearing his new one with carmen linares.

[james]

ok, i see dead people listed in the favorites, so my 5 favorite flamenco players are:
nino ricardo
nino ricardo
nino ricardo
nino ricardo
& of course, nino ricardo (a/k/a nino de ricardo)
If you haven't heard him, treat yourself.

[elan]

they all have something to offer musically, but i would also have to add to the lists mentioned Jose Valle "Chuscales". i also saw someone right here in wisconsin playing out who was doing some great modern solo stuff that was VERY feellingfull, and technical. i think his name was "Nubarron".

[rumin]

paco de lucia is really my favorite flamenco guitarist. but since we have to leave him out, another favorite of mine is moraito. i love how he plays. he really feels his music.

[ykabban]

I'm going to see Paco in Atlanta Feb. 21st. Has anyone seen his show for this tour(Cositas Buenas). I know a few of his members were having trouble with their Visas, so a few shows were cancelled. I didn't see Pepe Habichuela
as anyone's fovorite. I guess ya'll forgot. Adam del Monte is a great performer, but I feel he should cut out the classical pieces from his performances. I got a lesson from him a couple of years ago when he was in town. Wow - that rest stroke is hard to beat!