Search - Carlos Montoya :: Art of the Flamenco

The untied soul of Spanish Flamenco

Michael Ashley Schulman | Boston, MA USA baby | 08/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carlos Montoya brushes his heart along the strands of his instrument in this 19 track CD. I've listened to it for years and would gladly plunk down another fifteen clams for a new one if I ever lost it. His rifts through Variacones Por Tango set one's heart thumping, and his soulful pining in Cante Minero is enough to woo any corazon (heart). Noche Granadina and Zapateado De Las Campanas tell the true talent of this master as he unleashes his mastery and lets rhythym run wild. If you want pure Flamenco guitar, The Art Of Flamenco is it."

Stark and smoky

Michael Ashley Schulman | 08/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you like your flamenco in a smoky bar late at night, then this is great. The first half is just solo Carlos Montoya -- complete with buzzing strings, etc. The second half is more varied with some singing and castenets. This is first-layer flamenco - no producer polish added. Not a lot of information about the players or music itself is included."

Misleading CD

Richard C. Walter | New Jersey | 01/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Only the first half of this CD is Carlos Montoya on guitar, the other half is Mario Escudero on Guitar (which is why tracks 10-19 sound so much better!)... I'm glad I realized this early on, because enjoying the 2nd half of the CD was giving Montoya too much credit, he's not that good. Only 3 stars because the first half is a 1 and the second half a 5."