Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco

Amazon.com

Having witnessed the rise of Tango Nuevo, the refurbishing of Argentina's best-known native music by bandoneon maestro Astor Piazzolla, listeners might muse a bit that "New Flamenco" is an odd renovation to the Spanish guitar music's storied traditions. Odd or not, the music is certainly popular. Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco shares the floor with other compilations of contemporary artists working in the tradition, specifically Narada's Viva Flamenco! and its roster of guitarists playing along with keyboards, drums, and other textures. So the "New Flamenco" isn't a burnishing or rootsy exploration in the vein of Piazzolla. Instead, Ottmar Liebert, Strunz & Farah, Oscar Lopez, Luis Villegas, and eight more artists examine on Guitar Greats how Flamenco shakes the hand of pan-Ethnic music, New Age ambience, and--of course--virtuoso guitar playing. Some of the best moments here belong not to Liebert or Strunz & Farah, though. Dan Young & Lawson Rollins sound dizzying and rhythmically potent on "Scorpion," as does Luis Villegas on "Spider Hugs," with its irresistibly parading rhythmic intensity. Guitar Greats will likely sound old hat to many of the music's enthusiasts, but it'll easily win Flamenco converts. --Andrew Bartlett