It's Love

Not long now until the FTSOTS end-of-year list will see the light of day, but first things first, amigos... Which means it's time for the flamenco album of 2020. Easy, just has to be the impeccable Amor by fiery singer Israel Fernández, pride of Toledo. Fine voice, never too smooth. His sidekick on guitar: Diego Del Morao, trusted virtuoso from Jerez flamenco city. ¡Agua, rapido!

Israel Fernández & Diego Del Morao - El Anhelo (bulerías)

Green Eyes

 

A quiet start of the week with the delicate and dreamy flamenco guitar of Daniel López Vicente, better known as Dani de Morón. Dude is one of the new masters of the genre for sure. The first track is from his recent Creer Para Ver, the second one is a couple years older and features the great Antonio Reyes on passionate vocals. ¡Agua!

Dani de Morón - Ojos Verdes
Dani de Morón con Antonio Reyes - Fandangos Y Bulerías Por Soleá

Go Away

Got an intense flamenco beauty for you today courtesy of Chano Lobato, late great cantaor from the charming port city of Cadiz.

Chano Lobato - Anda, Vete, Que No Quiero

Poison Rose

Time for some hardcore flamenco with Benito Rodríguez Rey (1929-1992), better known as Beni De Cádiz after his place of birth, although he was also called the black gypsy. Powerful voice, lots of duende here. ¡Agua!

Beni De Cádiz - Rosa Venenosa
Beni De Cádiz - Que Lastima De Gitana

Like A Dream

Got some new flamenco for you this sunny Friday. Alfonso Carpio Fernandez, better known as Mijita, is part of one of the great flamenco dynasties of Jerez de la Frontera. And with a little help from the usual local suspects on guitar, he lives up to the high standard set by his forefathers. Nothing too heavy mind, but El Palacio De Cristal is an easy going, airy album. Brings back that summer feeling, too.

Alfonso Carpio Fernandez 'Mijita' - A Mi Me Falta Aire

Hasta Pronto

Jerez meets Seville, or: Jesús Méndez lends his voice to the delicate pickings of Dani de Morón. Simply irresistable. I'll be away from my desk for a week or so, traveling south to sunny Andalucía, home of flamenco. Back before you know it, my amigos da musica.

Dani de Morón con Jesús Méndez - Tientos

Suffer Some

Joaquín Jiménez Fernández, the flamenco vocalist better known as Salmonete de Jerez, started singing when he was 7, made one album when he was seventeen, only to disappear from the scene for fourty years. Long time no see indeed, but come back he did, his weathered voice accompanied by Domingo Rubichi on guitar, and the results are impressive to say the least.

Salmonete - Tanto Me Hiciste Sufrir

Angel Dust

Huelva province's finest flamenco singer just might be Francisco José Arcángel Ramos, the none-gypsy better known as just Arcángel. Here he digs deep por soleá. "Erase my name from your lips and don't call me..."

Arcángel - Llego La Hora

It Had To Be

Just got tickets for the upcoming Barcelona gig of Duquende, the mighty Catalan gypsy singer from Sabadell. Finally, for the last time I went to see him, the concert got cancelled at the last moment for some reason or other. And as it's a homenage to flamenco legends Camarón de la Isla and Paco De Lucía, and the masterful Diego del Morao is helping out on guitar, what can possibly go wrong? !Mucha ilusión!

Duquende - Niquelao

Something Good

A choice morsel of virtuoso flamenco guitar, courtesy of Gerardo Nuñez. Once named as heir to the throne of Paco de Lucía, all his classic albums, the lovely Jucal among them, are now long out of print as far as I know. Which is definitely odd.

Gerardo Nuñez - Jucal

Mark My Words

Luis Moneo Lara, younger brother of the more famous cantaor El Torta, is a rarity in flamenco circles, as he's not just a singer but an accomplished guitarist as well. On his first solo effort at 56, he's backed by his son Juan though. Great stuff con corazón from Jerez.

Luis Moneo - Mi Parecito Juan

Castle Made Of Sand

"Me pongo mirando al mar, veo como las olas unas vienen y otras van..." Moving in a southwesterly direction for some rest & recreation. First up: a flying visit to Jerez de la Frontera flamenco city, to attend the jubilee edition of the famous Buleria festival. Back in a week or two, hasta luego!

El Camarón De La Isla -  Como Castillo De Arena

Tanta Ilusión

In need of some duende in this hot weather, amigos? That's muy bien, as we've got a trio of fine examples of classic gypsy flamenco puro for you today. ¡Al cante!

Rafael Farina - A Pedirme Una Limosna
Manuel Jiménez Rejano - Cuando Escribo Mis Poemas
Ramon El Portugues - Porque Sabes Escribir

Like A Dream

Went digging here in town recently and stumbled upon this flamenco beauty by Fernanda and Bernarda, legendary singing gitano sisters from the fair town of Utrera. Deep stuff: ¡Lo Puro!

Fernanda De Utrera - Fandangos
Fernanda y Bernarda De Utrera - Bulerías Cané

Greetings From Morón

Straight from the frontier, straight from the heart.

Son De La Frontera - Bulería Del Corazón

Siempre Jerez

There will always be Jerez de la Frontera, flamenco city. And here are two excellent examples why. First up we have the impressive vocalist David Lagos, who's closely followed by the Carpio family collective called Los Mijitas. ¡Que bien!

David Lagos - A Dar Gritos Me Ponía
Los Mijitas - Mi Recuerdo

Silvery Moon

Presenting a gem from a much-recommended album about the life and times of the immortal Pablo Picasso, through the eyes of class singer Diego El Cigala. A flamenco treat.

Diego El Cigala - Luna De Plata (Gitana)

Muy Gitano

Taking a trip to the attractive Andalucian city of Lebrija to enjoy that fine gypsy singer Curro Malena por fandangos. On guitar we find the masterful Moraíto as the connection from nearby Jerez de la Frontera. ¡Ay!

Curro Malena - Fandangos

Alegría Time

High time for some flamenco puro again, so let's put the spotlight on José Valencia, a fine fine singer from the fair town of Lebrija. Muy gitano!

José Valencia - Bulerías (Del Pañolito)

Que Locura

Travelling to Jerez to meet Juan Moneo, the deep flamenco singer who's better known as El Torta. On guitar? The legendary Moraíto of course. Un, dos, tres, eh...

El Torta - Compás Borbóreo