Customer Reviews

Flamenco Styles on Two Guitars

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

DESPITE THE POOR SOUND QUALITY OF THIS CD REPRODUCTION, THIS IS ONE OF THE "BEST-EVER" FLAMENCO GUITAR RECORDINGS THAT YOU WILL FIND AVAILABLE ON CD & IF YOU LOVE GREAT GUITAR DUETS [LIKE PRESTI & LAGOYA OR WILLIAMS & BREAM] YOU MUST BUY THIS ALBUM !!! THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE OF THE LEGENDARY SABICAS' GENIUS ON DISPLAY IN THE HARMONIES OF THE 2 GREAT GUITARISTS PLAYING & THE MUSIC IS RARELY RECORDED GYPSY FLAMENCO VIRTUOSO DUETS !!! THERE IS ANOTHER EVEN BETTER LP OF THEIR DUETS THAT SADLY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED ON CD- SO, THIS IS THEIR ONLY RECORDING AVAILABLE TO CD COLLECTORS TO ENJOY... SO, LIKE ROBERT JOHNSON'S RECORDINGS OR RAMON MONTOYAS OLD RECORDINGS- IF YOU CAN OVERLOOK THE SCRATCHY SOUND & THE QUESTIONABLE MICROPHONE PLACEMENT IN THE RECORDING PROCESS- THEN YOU WILL HEAR THE BEST AVAILABLE FLAMENCO GUITAR DUET RECORDINGS STILL AVAILABLE FOR LISTENING ON MODERN MUSIC EQUIPMENT... NOW IF THEY WOULD ONLY RELEASE "QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES" ON CD [SABICAS ACCOMPANYING "LA REINA"/CARMEN AMAYA ALONG WITH 2 OTHER GUITARISTS] ALL OF SABICAS' FINEST FLAMENCO CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS WORLD TO ENJOY! VIVA SABICAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't agree entirely with any of the other reviewers.

Sabicas & Escudero were two of the greatest flamenco guitarists of their day (which is to say 1960, when this album was recorded). Together, they cut the best album of flamenco guitar duets ever made (The Fantastic Guitars of Sabicas and Escudero).

Unfortunately, this isn't it.

It does, however contain a lot of highly creative and interesting material, immaculately played.

It's true the recording quality is not great, even by the standards of the day (although the stereo separation is excellent).

However, the strangest thing about this CD is that the first track appears truncated, and then again, complete -- don't ask me why. So the album actually has eleven tracks instead of the stated ten. (The vinyl album was perfectly normal, by the way...)

The titles given to pieces don't really convey much, unless you know the flamenco forms; so I've indicated these as well. The total time is about 38 minutes.

01) Sevillanas (truncated) 3:19
02) Sevillanas 3:37
03) Farruca «La farruca» 2:59
04) Soleares «Temas primitivos» 3:47
05) Fandango «Fandango del albaicín» 3:15
06) Tarantas «Recuerdo a Linares» 3:44
07) Bulería «Ritmos de Sabicas» 4:09
08) Seguiriya «Sentimiento flamenco» 3:53
09) Alegrías «Solera Gaditana» 3:53
10) Tientos «Camino de monte» 3:16
11) Nana «Improvisación» 1:55

UPDATE 2011

This album has now been reissued, combined with Fantastic Guitars, as a twofer.

I was disappointed. The quality of the recording was not good.
I own an old vinyl album of the same artists and similar selections and it is excellent. The playing is more exciting and the recording is very good.
I had hoped that the new CD would be an even better, updated version. Sadly, it is not. Don't waste your money.

I took the 5 star reviews on faith and I am not happy. The sound quality is poor, to put it lightly. This supercedes the music in every way. Each track sounds like the one before. Don't bother....