Search - Sabicas :: Flamenco

The autumn of his career

Paul Magnussen | Campbell, CA USA | 01/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Art of the Guitar, Flamenco, Flamenco on Fire*, Studio 102 Essentials, Flamenco Fiesta and Classical Guitar(!) are all the same album under different titles, so check which version is cheapest before you buy! "Art" is the original LP title, and the CD has the same photo on the cover. 8 of the 10 tracks also appear on Flamenco Highlights from Spain, for what it's worth.



This album is from late in Sabicas's career, without the fire of his earlier recordings but with perhaps more variety and attention to beautiful melodies: "Ritmos del Paraguay" (triple-tracked) is a version of the old Trio Los Paraguayos harp favourite, "Bell Bird" ("Pájaro campano"). Oyanguren's "Fantasía Inca" has an introduction that's not in the version Sabicas recorded for Elektra on Sabicas Vol. 2 (reissued on La Guitarra Flamenca).



It's a beautiful album even if if you just love the Spanish guitar and aren't particularly into Flamenco.



The sheet music of "Damasco" has been published (along with five other Danzas Moras) in Danzas Arabes, capably transcribed by Alain Faucher (Affedis Publications). "Fantasía Inca" is in Volume IV of Gendai Guitar's Flamenco anthologies.



*"on Fire" reportedly has a tendency to skate, so perhaps it's best to avoid that one."