Plays Manuel de Falla

If you could take one disc to a desert island, it should be this one.One of the 20th century's finest musicians, interpreting one of the finest composers. Falla's music wasn't flamenco, but it was flamenco inspired, and Paco takes it back to its roots. But with the Paco touch. Absolutely timeless music.

A short time before Paco joined jazz-stars like Al di Meola and John McLaughlin he did this small detour from his flamenco-roots. He learned to read music and made arrangements from De Falla's best-known melodies and transported them (back) to the world of flamenco. The result is a mellow and atmospheric album with flawless playing by the master-guitarist himself. It sounds (there's not much technical info in the booklet) like he did some overdubbing and he's accompanied by a small group on some tracks (the swinging rumba 'Danza'. Another highlight is the tremolo he plays on Introduccion y Pantomima.

I bought this album in 1980 on cassette after seeing him perform this live in Valencia that summer. This is still one of my favourite albums 30 years later. The arrangements are simple but underlying this is a technical brilliance and warmth. if you like De Falla and flamenco you won't be disappointed.

Delightful !