Antonio Ramos Maca
Mira que te diga (Nuevos Medios NM 15915CD, 2010)
After many years as a reliable Flamenco bassist, Antonio Ramos ‘Maca’ has recorded his first album. Mira que te diga, which could be translated as “Let me tell you” was produced by Maca himself and is a showcase of his talent as a bass player in three different genres, Flamenco, funk jazz and smooth jazz.
All these years spent playing Flamenco have had a profound effect on Antonio Ramos’ style. He has mastered the technique of Flamenco bass and the best cuts on the album are the self-penned pieces with a deep flamenco flavor, where he is joined by a long list of reputable guitarists, vocalists and percussionists, including José Miguel Carmona, Jorge Pardo and Tomasito.
Ramos also stands out as a funk jazz bassist, clearly influenced by the great Marcus Miller. I’m not as interested in the smooth jazz material. Thankfully, there is little of it.
Antonio Ramos Urbano grew up in Granada (southern Spain), surrounded by the sounds of Flamenco and rock music. He formed his first rock band at 16. At 24 he moved to Madrid where he attended the Taller de Músicos school and participated in various workshops and seminars by renowned American musicians. In the Spanish capital he played with various rock, funk, flamenco, jazz, and Latin music bands, etc.
He’s worked with some of the top pop and Flamenco artists in Spain, Ketama, Rosario, Vicente Amigo, Luz Casal, Alejandro Sanz, Miguel Rios, Tomatito, Estopa, Enrique Morente, Antonio Flores, Niña Pastori, Lolita, Antonio Vega, Pastora Soler, José Mercé, Raimundo Amador, Melendi, Malú, Pasión Vega, and Niña Pastori. His current band is File Not Found which includes Spanish drummer Anye Bao and Madrid-based Italian guitarist Ludovico Vagnone.
Mira que te diga is an outstanding debut album by one of the top electric bassists in Spain, which blends bass wizardry with the passion and vitality of Flamenco.
Buy Mira que te diga
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.
