Customer Reviews

Paseo De Los Castanos

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

 

 

The Spanish flamenco artist Tomatito shows his depth and artistry on this disc of traditional and nuevo-flamenco. Seemingly always pushing the envelope and perception of the parameters of flamenco, Tomatito does not dissapoint with his exciting guitar stylings that are both technically brilliant and innovative. Several of the songs reach into the jazz idiom as on the rumba "La Vacilona" that features George Benson on guitar trading licks with Tomatito to the background of hand claps. The disc is very mellow for the most part but interrupts into flights of fiery guitar work that dazzles. The world music flavors abound and can be heard on such songs as the Turkish "Bir Omurluk Misafir" that features orchestration that is sublime. Other beautiful tracks include the opening song "Pa La Pimpi" which is more what one thinks of as flamenco and features Tomatito's daughter Mari Angeles sharing vocals on the tangos, another track with vocals is the buleria "Ahi Te Quedas" recorded in a cellar after wine tasting that features two male singers and comes across as an informal gathering complete with hand claps and ole's and another buleria "Paseo de los Castanos" that again has a family feel since their are so many musicains interchanging with Tomatito. Tomatito is in fine form on this disc and belongs in any serious collection of flamenco. I only wish the disc were longer as it comes in at thirty-eight minutes. Recommended for aficionados of cutting edge flamenco.

This is a superb CD -- technically brilliant, musically advanced and adventurous, containing top-notch flamenco style cuts (both with and without vocals) and a few cuts that range beyond flamenco into what some might consider jazz. I had the good fortune to see Tomatito live in Madrid -- he gave the single most amazing performance of acoustic guitar playing I've ever seen. The flamenco sound may feel alien to some American ears, especially the vocal style, so be sure it's for you before you pick up this CD or one like it. But if flamenco speaks to you, you cannot go wrong with this disc.

Two other Tomatito CD's are worth investigating as well: Guitarra Gitana (Gypsy Guitar -- as the title indicates, a bit more hard-core into flamenco than El Paseo de los Castanyos) and Aguadulce.

Tomatito's guitar playing has a unique and subtle combination of flamenco and jazz. For purists of flamenco music this may be not "kosher", but I recommend them to listen to this particular CD. They'll change their minds and will be pleasantly surprised.

Really nice work.

I won't give you a track by track argumentation of why this is nice. Rather, the whole disc leads you through a different states of emotion and intensity.

This disc is going to recharge you!

The arrangements are intellectually dense and performances are strong and mature, and yet, there are space for silence and softness.