Tantas Cosas (NR 1104, 2011)
Las Guitarras De España (The Guitars of Spain) is a Chicago-based band that fuses Flamenco sounds from Spain with a wide range of global sounds, including West African music, pop ballads, rock and Gypsy swing. Despite the band’s name, Las Guitarras De España includes more than guitarists. Tantas Cosas (which translates to “Many Things”) is Las Guitarras De España’s fifth album and features a full band with bass, percussion, brass and various other instruments.
Tantas Cosas includes compositions by vocalist and producer Patricia (Patty) Ortega. Her Spanish language vocals are passionate and infused with Flamenco roots. She leads the listener to a sound very similar to Spanish flamenco fusionists such as Ojos de Brujo, Chambao or Ketama. Patty herself is the product of cultural fusion: She was born and raised in Chicago, but her mother is from Mexico and her father from Cuba. As a child, the family listened to Mexican folk music, Cuban son, and flamenco. She mentions that pop, rock, R&B, Mexican ranchera, and artists such as Cafe Tacuba, Ojos de Brujo, Chambao, Concha Buika, Lila Downs, and Michael Jackson are the inspiration for her compositions.
The other band leader and executive producer is guitarist Carlo Basile. He has a Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar performance and pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University. His Master’s Degree performance was titled “Flamenco Music and Spain’s Nationalist Composers.” Carlo studied Classical guitar with Anne Waller at Northwestern University for 7 years. He continues to study flamenco guitar in Cordoba and Sevilla (Spain) with various teachers including Luis Ruiz (“Calderito”). Carlo has travelled to and either performed, lectured, or collaborated with musicians from Rajasthan (India); Mirissa (Sri Lanka); Chang Mai (Thailand), Cebu (Philippines), Merzuga (Morocco); Camaguey and Havana (Cuba); Limassol (Cyprus); Zabalo (Ecuador) and Paracho (Mexico). As a composer, Carlo has written music for Clinard Dance Theater productions, various radio and television spots, and recently he co-wrote and performed all of the music for the Steppenwolf Theatre’s production of “Sonia Flew.”
Tantas Cosas is a formidable album with as winning mix of Flamenco rock and global sounds.
Buy the CD: Tantas Cosas
Buy the MP3s: Tantas Cosas
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.
