The Prog Andaluz Aficionado Thread - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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aristillus View Drop Down

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Posted: September 11 2008 at 11:18

Listen now to an advance of the new music of CAI "LAS HIJAS DE ATLAS" (The Daughters of Atlas)

http://www.alegriasdecai.com/indexingles.html

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Posted: September 19 2008 at 20:14

erik neuteboom wrote:

Senor NoUnaCarbezaDeProg, I just read your Medina Azahara review about the album Aixa on the homepage, indeed not very interesting.

Yesterday evening I played the Sabicas album, what a mindblowing

blend of flamenco, Prog Andaluz and rock

Recently I listened to "Aixa" a couple of times, and found that the album is not so bad. To rehabilitate the album, I asked Easy Livin to delete my review. I submitted a new one, solid 3 stars.

Now I believe MEDINA AZAHARA never made an album to be ashamed of.

Last month and a half I overtook real "Spanish invasion":

1. First three MEDINA AZAHARA albums in 2CD set (of course, added them on PA)

Debut album and "La Esquina del Vento" seems are proggiest band's efforts. No epics, but lots of interesting instrumental passages, great songs. "Andalusia" is slightly weaker, but pleasant.

2. Watched, at last, MEDINA AZAHARA "En Gira" DVD: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=7950

Why it took me 3 years to take the disc from the shelf?

. Not much prog here, but what a great rock concert! Definitely I want more from MEDINA AZAHARA.

3. ALAMEDA, 4 albums on 2 CDs

Self-titled debut is almost a masterpiece, the rest are OK, but poppier.

4. A couple of VICENTE AMIGO CDs:

"Vivencias Imaginadas" (1995)

Great, in the vein of his latest albums, one of the pieces played with Paco De Lucia

and "Poeta" subtitled as “Concierto Flamenco Para un Marinero en Tierra” (1997)

A very special work, recorded with symphony orchestra (Orquesta de Cordoba). Vicente's magic guitar, some narrated poetry of Rafael Alberti, some flamenco songs (as far as I can tell, about the sea and brave captains), powerful sound of the orchestra, sounds of sea waves... Brilliant.

5. When I ordered Vicente's albums, I remembered Erik's recommendations to listen to Sabicas. The store could offer this compilation:

Wow! What a discovery!

Erik, thank you very much for recommending me this great master!

I already ordered (after reading your post in this thread) this one:

P.S. Probably there is some spiritual connection: a couple of days ago my wife opened a bottle of Spanish brandy. I think sounds of flamenco and Prog Andaluz gave her the idea to do it

. By the way, you're losing a lot, if never tried brandies from Spain, they are excellent!

Edited by NotAProghead - September 19 2008 at 20:37

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: December 09 2008 at 10:16

Better late than never, muchas gracias senor NoUnaCabezaDeProg

and this is for you and all the Prog Andaluz aficionados, see:

http://www.dprp.net/forgotten/progandaluz/

Saludos de una Holanda muy frio

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Posted: December 09 2008 at 21:16

Thanks, Erik!

Read your article about Prog Andaluz. Most albums are familiar, some - to be discovered.

A question to you. Quote:

"Alameda plays very professionally: a splendid, very fluent rhythm - section, tasteful keyboards, (from soaring strings to swinging piano and sensational synthesizer flights), and often exciting guitar work, both electric as flamenco - (along with contributions by flamenco guitar legends Tomatito and Paco De Lucia)."

I found Tomatito in ALAMEDA albums credits. But Paco De Lucia seems is not mentioned. What songs are recorded with him?

And I should say it again - I'm so grateful to you for Sabicas. Greatest guitarist, really! His 1966 album with Joe Beck is revolutionary record. Not only because of Sabicas, but due to Joe Beck and his band sound too. It was 1966 and only few bands (Cream comes to mind first) had then such a heavy sound.

I also purchased this DVD

and was very impressed, as well as my brother, who watched it countless times.

P.S. Don't leave this thread, Erik! Keep Spanish flame burning! Clap

Edited by NotAProghead - December 09 2008 at 21:22

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: December 10 2008 at 11:58

Soy aqui, senor NoUnaCabezaDeProg

Thanks for the compliments about my Sabicas recommendation, his album with Joe Beck is pure progrock, so adventurous and keep in mind that it was 1966!

About your Paco De Lucia question: in the booklet of the 2-CD entitled Todos Sus Grabaciones 1979-1983 you are right that Paco De Lucia is not mentioned with the other musicians but in the small history (in Spanish) I read "Paco toco con Alameda (Por Los Espacios Del Tiempo)", then I listened to that song and indeed, in the final part I am sure Paco De Lucia delivers his distinctive flamenco guitarwork, including the 'picados' (very quick runs)

Feliz Navidad y un prospero ano nuevo para todos los afiocnados de Prog Andaluz

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Posted: December 10 2008 at 15:01

Yes, I was surprised too how that Joe Beck - Sabicas record sounds, it was really ahead of its time. Clap

Thanks, Erik. Now I see - on ALAMEDA's "Noche Andaluza" album page here Paco De Lucia is mentioned, but without pointing out respective song.

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: December 10 2008 at 16:11

Indeed, the Sabicas - Joe Beck album was ahead of its time and I agree with you senor NoUnaCabezaDeProg, Cream came also to my mind.

I still remember very vividly that I was on a camping in Cap D'Agde in the Southern part of France (near Montpellier) and there was a poster that announced a concert in a bull fight arena featuring ... the guitar trio Al DiMeola, JohnMcLaughlin and my flamenco hero Paco De Lucia, that was summer 1981 and since then I have seen Paco one more time with the trio and a lot of times with his Paco De Lucia Sextet, in fact that music should also be here on Prog Archives: a fascinating blend of jazz, flamenco and ethnic elements, very progressive in that adventurous spirit of Paco De Lucia who dare to scout the borders of the flamenco (many fanatic conservative aficionados nailed him for that adventurous spirit

). So I would like to recommend the great live album Paco De Lucia ...One Summer Night Live

Edited by erik neuteboom - December 10 2008 at 16:15

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Posted: December 10 2008 at 16:44

I have "Friday Night in San Francisco". Seems my next Paco De Lucia purchase will be "One Summer Night Live". Smile

If Paco De Lucia will be here some will tell PA becomes Flamenco Archives LOL

. Not a bad idea though Wink

By the way, I found good flamenco online store http://www.esflamenco.com. Sometimes a liitle bit expensive, but ordered CDs arrive within 2-3 days. I also like it contains lots of information.

Edited by NotAProghead - December 10 2008 at 16:50

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: December 11 2008 at 12:36

What about this senor NoUnaCabezaDeProg

http://www.flamencovision.com/reviews.html

Good advice, I stumbled upon this section of your recommended website:

http://www.esflamenco.com/scripts/news/esnews.asp?frmIdPagina=528

One Summer Night Live by The Paco De Lucia Sextet is in fact a very adventurous progressive album, I remember that during that tour in my hometown The hague, many coldblooded Dutchmen in the crowd turned into hot aficinados

"Baby" Paco ... !

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Posted: December 12 2008 at 19:42

Wow, Erik, your reviews are on flamenco sites! Great!

Juan Martin & friends album - sounds very intriguing. By the way, what's its title? It did not mention in your review Wink

I looked yesterday at my brother's CD collection and found about 20 Paco De Lucia albums, including "One Summer Night Live" (why the cover seemed so familiar to me? Smile

) and "Live in America", again by Paco De Lucia Sextet. Borrowed these two to listen. Probably he also owns "La fabulosa guitarra...", I'll look when come to him.

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: December 13 2008 at 03:41

Buenos dias senor NoUnaCabezaDeProg.

I was surprised too about that review on a flamenco site

The title of the Juan Martin album is Picasso Portraits, I have added this artist to this site, see:

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1812

You are lucky with that brother

, has he ever seen the Paco The Lucia Sextet?

Your enthousiastic posts inspired me yesterday to watch a DVD compilation I made last year out of video TV footage (WDR, Arte, BBC, Dutch TV), it contains a docu in which Paco Pena explains the differences between classical and flamenco guitar, he points at the more complex thumb - and tremolo technique and the use of the very distinctive flamenco guitar art like 'rasgueado' (quick downward strokes) and 'golpe' (hitting the body of the guitar with the nail), that's why I love Prog Andaluz so much, it's the perfect, unsurpassed mix of skills and emotion

Happy weekend with the Paco De Lucia Sextet, I am looking forward to your experiences

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Posted: December 16 2008 at 10:08

Thanks, Erik. Your enthousiastic posts inspired me to find on eBay and order "Picasso Portraits" Smile

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: December 16 2008 at 15:11

That's very good news, senor NoUnaCabezaDeProg, I am sure you will be delighted about the exciting blend of flamenco and 'symphonic jazzrock' on Picasso Portraits by Juan Martin, the interplay is awesome, I am looking forward to your review.

More Prog Andaluz: did you notice the Andalusian element at the end of the album Si Partie II by Nemo during the song Une Question De Temps, check out

More flamenco: last week I watched a BBC documentary entitled Guitar Heroes: At The BBC, among legends as Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore, we could enjoy ... Paco Pena By the way, did you know he has taught former PM Tony Blair guitar lessons ... here's more about that stunning fact:

Tone deaf? Not according to his teacher

Article Abstract:

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is sensitive and musical, according to flamenco guitarist Paco Pena, who has developed a friendship with Blair. He spent a considerable amount of time playing music with Blair over Easter 1998, but he denies that he is actually teaching Blair. The two men share the same political principles, and both are aware of the need to be authoritarian at times. For Blair, this is when members of the cabinet do not share his views, while for Pena this is when he is controlling performers in his company of musicians and dancers.

author: Thomas, David

Publisher: Financial Times Ltd.

Edited by erik neuteboom - December 16 2008 at 15:14

rosenbach

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Posted: January 17 2009 at 16:18

I like a lot spanish prog (as well as spanish folk music) and i agree with most of the groups you recommned here although some of them are not andalusian rock (Atila, Canarios, Eduardo Bort, Gotic, Iceberg, etc) they made some really good albums; but i would like to add the first solo album by ex-Samsh guitarrist Gualberto called Vericuetos, in a way it reminds me like the first Muaro Pagani album but with tha andalusian touch.

About new bands i think the first Zaguan album (2002) is way better than Testigo del tiempo, not quite original but rather a collage from Triana's tunes and passages although quite pleasing at the end.

Maybe Paco de Lucia doesn't fit in here but a thank you mention him, and i too recommend the One Summer Live album filled with great musicianship and passion.

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: January 18 2009 at 05:10

Hola senor Rosenbach.

Thanks for your post, Rosenbach (doesn't sound very Latin-American, roots in Germany, Swiss or Austria?), I am searching for that second Zaguan album for a long time, I love their blend of rock, blues and flamenco and their singer is the second coming of the late Jesus De La Rosa.

I have some songs of Gualberto his album Vericuetos on several Prog Andaluz compilation CD's, your recommendation is a good reason for me to buy that album, in the end

After the addition of Dutch band Flairck their progressive folk, The Paco De Lucia Sextet would fit perfectly here on Prog Archives, I agree with you about their skills and passion, that exciting blend is the heart of my love for Prog Andaluz

Saludos.

rosenbach

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Posted: January 19 2009 at 04:09

Hi Erik, I choose rosenbach because my favourite italian prog album (Museo Rosenbach).

I hope you enjoy Vericuetos if you decide to buy it.

By the way I'm new here and haven't seen the Flairck thread, but i tell you is one of my favourite folk groups since more than 20 years ago, in fact they're one of the reasons why i became interested in listening european folk music; it took me a long time to get most of their albums until last year they released their box including all of them; anyway, besides a love Flairck i don't see them as a progressive folk group.

Saludos

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: January 19 2009 at 12:33

Well Rosenbach, I also love Zarathustra by Museo Rosenbach, especially the epic titletrack contains one of the most intense Mellotron eruptions

By the way, when I wrote a review about that wonderful album in 2004, I got a PM by their drummer who was very grateful for my review, what an honour! And about Flairck, they often performed in my hometown The Hague, I have seen the band at least 10 times and every gig was great, so many skills but also lots of humor! Perhaps you can say adventurous folk ...

About that Flairck box: you are lucky, I have never seen that box (I presume LP's) and many progheads are searching on the Internet for Flairck albums.

But let's return to Prog Andaluz: my next order will contain that Gualberto album, I am looking forward to listen to it

Edited by erik neuteboom - January 19 2009 at 12:34

rosenbach

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Posted: January 19 2009 at 15:20

Lucky you Erik, Flairck has never played in my country, but i had the satisfaction to see Eric Visser presenting his solo album and playing with a mexican group (La Mueca i think) and he was kind enough to sign me some cd covers (some friends of mine took their vynils but i think the covers are so beautiful to be singed, even by Eric Visser himself!). I read that the original 4 members of Flairck were touring together again, i hope they came to Mexico.

I will look for your review of Museo Rosenbach.

(PS Doy you like Zenga too?)

Saludos amigo

Edited by rosenbach - January 19 2009 at 15:22

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: January 19 2009 at 15:33

What a joy that Erik (not Eric ) Visser performed in your country! I just read on the Flairck website that Flairck toured in Chile last year, Erik is the only original member of the early years.

I don't know Zenga, can you describe the music?

My Prog Andaluz recommendations for you: the Sabicas album with Joe Beck and Juan Martin his Picasso Portraits, see this thread and the enthousiastic reactions by fellow Prog Andaluz aficionados

Saludos de una Holanda muy frio y con mucho viento

rosenbach

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Posted: January 19 2009 at 15:40

Zenga is a group formed by Peter Weekers and Annette Visser, both membres of Flairck for some years (mostly Weekers) so thier music sometimes sounds a lot like Flairck (aka Flairck 10); i would recommend you their first album from 1996 called Zenga.

I've heard the Sabicas and Joe Beck album but not the other one you tell me, so will try to hear it soon.

Gracias