Customer Reviews

Spain Again

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though I am familiar with the work of both Tomatito and Michel Camilo, I didn't even know this collaboration existed until I recently spied it in the racks at a well-known book and music chain. Then, as soon as I saw that the duo performed a tribute to Astor Piazzolla, I had to have it. So I went home, got on amazon, and found it much cheaper here from one of the amazon partners than at the book store and ordered it immediately.
It arrived from Argentina in about a week and I anticipated pure bliss while inserting it into the CD player. And mostly, I was not disappointed.
Here's what I like best:
1)Libertango-Camilo and Tomatito deliver just over four minutes of sonic wizardry. Libertango is one of the most internationally famous of Piazzolla compositions, and this rendition just dazzles.
2)Fuga Y Misterio-A very technically challenging Piazzolla piece. It always reminds me of something Frank Zappa might have written had he been Argentine. Camilo and Tomatito give an exquisite rendering.
3)Adios Nonino-Probably THE most covered Piazzolla piece and the most personally meaningful to El Troesma himself. I've heard many different interpretations of this, at least a dozen of them by Piazzolla himself. This rendition is starkly reminiscent of the rare version which features Piazzolla and guitarist Cacho Tirao.
4)Twilight Glow-An escape to serenity for when the lights are low. Think Al DiMeola in one of his acoustic moods.
5)A Los Nietos-Dedicated to Pat Metheny but again strongly suggestive of Al DiMeola. Excellent!
and,
6)La Fiesta-I first heard this Chick Corea composition on a Stan Getz album. I liked it then and I like even more the interpretation given here.
About the only cuts I didn't care for were the opening Gardel classic El Dia Que Me Quieras which I find too subdued, and the unappealing vocals featured on Amor de Conuco.
As you can see, there are many good reasons to buy this CD and no good reason not to. If you are here, you must have a passing interest in at least one of the featured musicians. And quite likely, you are either a jazz fan a la Corea or Di Meola, or you have come here for the Piazzolla tangos.
There are certainly a lot of reasons I like Spain Again, so it will be in heavy playing rotation for months to come. Check it out, you should not be disappointed!

Spain was a triumph in Jazz. Both Michel Camillo and Tomatito are stars in their field. As a pianist Camillo is one of the most distinct voices of his generation. Both bold and tender, at the same time robust and subtle. A voice recognized out of many. The same goes for Tomatito. His work on the flamenco guitar is one that is seldom approached by other players. When both man teamed up for Spain they sounded like a match made in heaven. Tomatito and Camillo sounded as if they had been playing together for years. Spain left you desperate for more.

Finally there's a follow and it does not disappoint. Both men play the strengths of their instruments very well. Both men complement each other even better. The album never fails to grab your attention. The ballads on the record are as captivating as the more up-tempo pieces. Although both men are technically very accomplished they never fall into the trap of tying to bedazzle the listener with technical bolstering. Instead the record leans heavy into strong melodic and rhythmic structure, leaving you floating on a warm summer breeze.

I had the opportunity to see them live on their only presentantion at the National Theater in Santo Domingo this past 29th of September. These two artists play together as if they were Heart & Lungs. Following Camilo with the piano is like Mission Imposible but Tomatito, without hesitation, follows in a way that it merges its flamenco roots with Camilo's caribbean beat...the funny part is that they also play tangos. Both are legends. This fusion is the pure definition of music pleasure. This is a MUST HAVE CD in your Jazz, New Age, Lounge, Caribbean, Flamenco or Tango music collection.

Very beautiful music. I did not know that guitar and piano was all you needed to create wonderfully pleasing sounds.

If you love deliciously involving music, when fingers of time stroke your subconsious, and you feel moved to keep time with your whole body, this is the music for you! It is pure delight, complicated and complex, simple and direct, like love with notes!
It is to be enjoyed alone or to share. You will not be disappointed.

"Mo' Bettah" is a Hawaiian slang for much better & this masterpiece of Flamenco/Jazz fusion is much better than the first release by these 2 virtuosos !!! they sound much more comfortable in the interplay of the guitar with the piano & the recording of both instruments is better balanced than on their first, Grammy-winning recording... for my taste, this recording represents an evolution of the "piano with flamenco guitar" concept that was initiated by Chic Corea w/ Paco de Lucia on Chic's "Touchstone" classic & this duo's first effort... this session is simply a masterpiece of Beauty-full Music !!! their perseverance with performing together really shows growth thru experience in the creative communication between Michel & Tomatito- & that evolution creates a totally satisfying listening experience for the gypsy-hearted afficianados who will enjoy this music immensely & intensely... simply awesome stuff !!!

I had some misgivings about this album - I wondered how two instruments which can easily tread on each others' toes can sustain their duo for most or all 11 tracks. Camilo and Tomatito do just that by using a surprising range of textures available from their instruments; colour just bursts forth from every phrase: Camilo's bell-like scales, Tomatito's rasgueados are flashes of light - both musicians play with real empathy, and the richness of material - a blend of jazz, salsa and flamenco - is such that I ended up listening to the whole album over and over again.

To sum up. What this album is: sophisticated, beautiful, sensitive, colourful, original, poetic (especially the "cherry on the icing" vocal contribution by guest artist Juan Luis Guerra).

What this album is not: clichéd, boring, run-of-the-mill, uninspiring, predictable.

This is a gem of an album, teaming with creativity thanks to consistent consummate musicianship. Highly recommended.

it should have been named LATIN LATIN!!!IT IS as good as SPAIN with eexxcceelleenntt recording.it has the fresh flavor of a ripe little Tomato sprinkled with Camilo salt...

"Spain Again" reunites Spanish flamenco guitarist Tomatito with American jazz pianist Michel Camilo. Camilo is a classically trained prodigy whose influences range from Art Tatum to Keith Jarrett, while Tomatito reigns as one of his country's brightest stars, citing Paco De Lucía as one of his key inspirations. The success of this collaboration does not lie in the differences between their musical heritages, but rather in the common ground these two masters forge within the parameters of this recording. Although virtuosity is certainly not something both musicians are lacking, one never senses that the two are competing with one another. Instead the listener hears a deep and profound camaraderie between the two which amicably encompasses the music on this disc. The delicate interplay and intuitive sensitivity the artists share recalls the seminal sixties collaborations between Jim Hall and Bill Evans. Throughout their adventurous melodic excursions and thrilling improvisations, Tomatito and Camilo never lose focus of the inherent beauty of each composition. The session includes an eclectic assortment of music featuring jazz standards, moving tributes, and original compositions. Standouts include a series of three heartfelt homages to Astor Piazzolla, all brilliantly executed and performed to perfection. On the ballad "Stella by Starlight," Tomatito offers some unique and intricate rhythm playing as Camilo skillfully navigates his way through the demanding chord changes of the piece. The recording ends with the joyous "Amor de Conuco," featuring a passionate vocal performance by Juan Luis Guerra and marking an appropriate conclusion to this very memorable musical experience. "Spain Again" is a truly magical recording of extraordinary music and should be required listening for all fans of jazz, classical, and flamenco music.
James Scott

Michel Camilo and Tomatito are great artists and preformers. They are great individually but together they are truly an example of the sum of their parts are truly greater playing together than individually.

I have seen both artists in concert individually as well as seeing them perform together on stage in 2006, and can say that this was the best concert I have ever attended.

This cd is truly a gem.