The New Star of Flamenco
Dr. Debra Jan Bibel | Oakland, CA USA | 06/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Flamenco", a 2-fer, is an outstanding bargain and way to re-introduce Miguel Poveda to the world music and Latin music audience, for it includes under a united sleeve his first two albums. It has been a while since a flamenco vocalist has captured wide attention, and his is well deserved. The earlier [1998] "Suena Flamenco" is the better of the two because of the variety of arrangements. Poveda's strong but not coarse singing is in the traditional cante we expect, and we hear forms such as tango, alegrias, zambra, buleria, as well as the now common and popular rumba. His ensemble is first rate with powerful rhythms supported by palmas, hand-clapping, and the guitarist Juan Gomez Chicuelo. What is especially interesting is the style that straddles both traditional flamenco and the more jazzy nuevo flamenco, a middle way that succeeds. On two tracks, there is a remarkable, even novel experiment of piano taking the place of guitar, producing something between a classical art song by Manuel de Falla and some night club cabaret, yet it works. The second album [2001] is "Zaguán," an expansion of Poveda's explorations with other flamenco forms, including a fandango, soleá, taranto, and liviana. The liner notes of both albums contain the lyrics in Spanish. Here, then, are two albums of contemporary grand flamenco of the highest order that will bring hours of superb listening. Olé!"