Search - Various Artists, Jesse Cook, Ottmar Liebert :: Gypsy Passion: New Flamenco (Narada Collection Series)

"New Flamenco" not new Flamenco

J. H. Minde | Boca Raton, Florida and Brooklyn, New York | 12/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With apologies to Mr. L.K. Coleman and his utterly misleading Spotlight Review, this album does not pretend to be anything but what it is. Flamenco is a traditional form of music born in Andalusian Spain and created from Indian, Arabic, Jewish, Romano-Iberian and Celto-Iberian elements. GYPSY PASSION and its successors in the Narada catalogue are examples of Nuevo Flamenco or "New Flamenco" which is a style of Fusion incorporating traditional Flamenco, Jazz, Rock, Classical, and other musics. Either Mr. Coleman doesn't know about New Flamenco as a school of performance, or he's a purist who just dislikes it.



In either case, this album deserves five stars as a lively, engaging and pleasurable listening experience. And yes, "New Flamenco" has revitalized the traditional Andalusian form in modern-day Spain. GYPSY PASSION is absolutely worth your time."

Great new flamenco

R. Stepan | Phoenix, AZ | 03/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK let me just settle all this criticism for all those who may want to buy this cd. First of all I play flamenco guitar professionally. There are 50 different styles of flamenco that are well know and countless others that arene't so well known.

Within those styles are hundreds of compas most based on the city in Spain of origin. There are a myriad of time signatures including the 12 meter hemiolic which most common in Bulerias.

I have reviewed this and other CD's like Flamenco chill and comment without reserve that these are flamenco songs. The "modernization" of flamenco music can be equated to blues appearing in every rock recording for the last 50 years. An old type flamenco recording would usually be a concert piece from Tarraga or Jerez or one those classically trained flamenco artists. It could well be argued that they classicized flamenco which ripped out all the guts and soul of the music. The amazing picado runs, powerful rageos, and alzapua licks are all mandatory elements of flamenco. If one would participate in a juelgo they would see a cajon, castenettes, palmas, cante, baille etc...this is a letre..a play of sorts with everyone responding to the cante. To listen to this in a recording would be like listening to the sound of a baseball game..there would be so much missing that it would be a complete waste of time.

SO stop tying to be mr. know it all and just enjoy music for what it is..an expression of human emotion....peace out"

Captivating and sensuous to the last note!

R. Stepan | 07/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had really never heard flamenco music much before I bought this. My daughter's friend's Spanish class went to see a flamenco show in Trenton, NJ, and came back raving about it! My daughter then insisted that I buy it for her. Ever since then, I cannot get enough of it! It's BEAUTIFUL! I know it's not the traditional flamenco, but with the new modern twist behind it, it can bring in a whole new audience. I must say that the second track, Gipsy, is particularly excellent; yet, all of the tracks are exquisit in their own way, providing a variation of tempos and styles while still keeping the theme of the CD. After all, it is entitled Gypsy PASSION, and that's exactly what it is: Passionate! I would buy it five more times!"