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)

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

Por Fandangos

And the flamenco album of the year, you ask? Just has to be this attractive live recording made in Madrid's Círculo Flamenco. Singing his heart out is Antonio Reyes, a rising vocal star from Chiclana. He's accompanied by virtuoso guitarist Diego Del Morao, who once again proves himself a worthy successor to his late great father Moraíto. Here's hoping this duo will be together for years to come.

Antonio Reyes y Diego Del Morao - Fandangos

About Time

Good news for all aficionados who feared that Diego el Cigala was lost to the world of flamenco, busy as he was exploring the music of South America for the last ten years or so. On this live album, recorded in 2012 in Barcelona but only released last year, the longhaired singer from Madrid finally goes back to his roots, and with often breathtaking results at that. On guitar: the mighty Diego del Morao, son of the late great Moraíto Chico.

Diego el Cigala - El Reloj De Mi Existencia

No More

Orate is one of the best modern flamenco albums I've heard in quite a while. It's the debut of Diego Del Morao, a youngster who comes from a famous dynasty of Jerez guitar players - the late great Moraíto Chico was his dad for instance. As you can taste below, his exquisite, relaxed style has a certain 'now sound', without ever straying too far from puro roots. For more background, you can read an interesting interview with the maestro here. One excerpt: "I practice just enough to get by, and no more..." Hard to believe, but probably true, too.

Diego Del Morao - Gañanía

Diego Del Morao - El Regalo