Canción Andaluza by guitar master Paco de Lucía has received the Best Album of the Year and Best Flamenco Album accolades at the 2014 Latin Grammy Awards. Paco de Lucía passed away earlier this year.
Canción Andaluza was the last album recorded by the legendary guitarist. It was Paco’s tribute to copla [popular folk-influenced Andalusian songs]. In addition to stellar guitar performances by Paco de Lucía, Canción Andaluza featured guests such as flamenco stars Estrella Morente and Parrita, and salsa icon Óscar de León.
“One realizes that as life passes by, childhood is not just the beginning. It’s destiny; the home to which you go back to. It’s there, in those streets in Algeciras that played Quiroga, León and Marife; those first experiences that capture your soul, the green eyes, the zambra [Gypsy dance] and despair, a place that I always go back to. They called them ‘Folclóricas’ [a derogatory term for female Andalusian folk singers], as if folk music was vulgar. As if there wasn’t a stunning inscrutable depth in Andalusia’s first heartbeat. To them, who were my first loves. To Andalusian song; my partner. And because history has the ugly habit of not realizing that the greatest of all, nearly always sit at the back. For all of you,” said Paco de Lucia about his copla tribute.
Purchase Canción Andaluza
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
