THE YEAR’S BEST… CDs, Books, Sheet music, DVDs…

These are hard times for the recording industry, especially regarding flamenco.  The global recession of 2008 produced a meagre turnout of CDs, books, DVDs, whether new or re-released, and it could be said that only the bare minimum was published.

CDs

Few established veterans brought out recordings in 2008, barely four in all: Carmen Linares with “Raíces y Alas” on her own label, Manuel Moreno “El Pele” with his “8 Guitarras…y un Piano”, probably the best recording of the year, Enrique Morente, who added another title to his already extensive discography with a tribute to Pablo Picasso, and Juan Peña “El Lebrijano” singing to Gabriel García Márquez.

Other old hands such as Yeyé de Cádiz, El Chozas o Curro Lucena added their contribution to the flamenco output of 2008.  Especially interesting are Juan Gómez with “Flamenco Cabal”, both recording for the first time on their own labels, so flamenco fans may get to know them after all these years.

The roster of young people bringing out their first recording was bigger than in other years; the need to make a name makes having a recording an excellent calling card to get contracts for live performances.  Enrique el Piculabe and Manuel Cuevas with the multinational Universal, Juan Pinilla, winner of the Lámpara Minera in 2007 on an independent label, Ezequiel Benítez after participating in “La Nueva Frontera del Cante de Jerez”, brought his record titles “Sobrellevé” and Israel, a singer from Toledo, tried his luck with “Naranjas Sobre la Nieve”.  Other noteworthy recordings of 2008 were David Palomar’s “Trimilenaria” which he himself published, and the just released “Jerez sin Fronteras” of Jesús Méndez, produced by Gerardo Núñez.  

If cante brought few important recordings from the stars, in guitar we were like abandonded orphans, with only Tomatito’s “Antología” which can hardly be considered a new record.  As far as young people, we had Michele Iaccarino’s “Tiempo Presente”, Juan Delola’s “Anhelo”, and especially Juan Antonio Suárez “Cano” with his “Son de Ayer”.

In the area of fusion, group recordings, instrumentals and other diverse mixtures, we find records such as Pitingo’s “Soulería”, one of the best sellers in Spain.  Falete, Algiva and el Barrio continue to be related to flamenco and enjoy great success among the general public.  Popularity aside, 2008 brought some good instrumental records such as Diego Amador’s “Río de los Canasteros”, Sergio Monroy’s “Chicuco” and Perico Sambeat’s “Flamenco Big Band”.  Another recording that left a good impression is Diego el Cigala’s “Dos Lágrimas”, the continuation of “Lágrimas Negras”, which was very popular in Spain.  Other important releases include Lole´s “Metáfora”, El Cabrero’s recording of Argentine tangos, Mayte Martín with the Labéque sisters on “De Fuego y Agua” and Javier Limón’s “Son de Limón”.

Re-releases are also important for flamenco, each year more so.  This year brought “Alegro, Soleá” and “Fantasía de Cante Jondo” that Enrique Morente had waiting to be revived from his label Discos Pobreticos.  The inevitable and much-awaited “new” record of Camarón that comes out each year, continues to be a goldmine for Universal and a joy for the singer’s ardent followers.  Other interesting items brought back by Universal were recordings by Enrique el Culata, La Perrata, Mujeres de la Bética, Pepe el Culata and Pericón de Cádiz.

DVDs

In DVD format, the most important releases continue to be instructional material and re-releases.  Noteworthy is the collection “48 Lecciones de Guitarra Flamenca” in 4 volumes created by José Manuel Montoya, the DVDs of “Zapateado Flamenco” and “Aprende a Tocar las Castañuelas”, both by Manuel Salado, all top sellers.

Without a doubt, the most important DVDs of the year were the re-releases of Carlos Saura’s “Flamenco” and “Sevillanas” which were out of stock for many years and have been well-received by flamenco fans.

However, truly new, perhaps only the DVD “Farruquito and Family”, a live recording, and the DVD of Domingo Ortega, Andrés Peña and Rafael Campallo.  And let’s not forget José Antonio Rodríguez’ “Córdoba en el Tiempo”.

BOOKS

Incredibly enough, flamenco books continue to come out, and although they quickly go out of stock, some last and become classics. In reverse order of their publication, we can highlight “Carmen” put out by the Antonio Gades Foundation  to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show’s debut, and Miguel Mora’s “La Voz de los Flamencos” which seems to be the gift of choice this Christmas.  José Luís Ortiz Nuevo’s “Las Mil y una Historias de Pericón de Cádiz”, and the re-release of Manuel Machado’s “Cante Hondo” are also worthy of note.

In sheet music, Oscar Herrero’s publishing firm Acordes Concert continues to rescue guitar jewels with work such as Manolo Franco’s “Algibe” and Mario Escudero’s “Gloria de la Guitarra Flamenca”.  Also important is the work of José Luis Montón, Tomatito’s “Paso de los Castaños”, Vicente Amigo’s “Campo de la Verdad” and the most recent release of the official version of Paco de Lucía’s “Almoraima”.

THE FLAMENCO YEAR 2008 IN REVIEW