Various Artists – Mediterranean Gypsies Roads (KaRu Prod, 2021)
French label KaRu Prod put together the Mediterranean Gypsies Roads – The sound of guitars # 1 collection of Gitano and Manouche guitarists from the border Catalan region that includes parts of southeastern France and northeastern Spain. The musical influences range from Flamenco and Gypsy Jazz to rumba catalana and bossa nova.
Highlights include the opening track “Raphael” by Antoine Tato Garcia featuring Flamenco guitar, cajón and palmas; the Flamenco guitar piece “El rencuentro” with vocals in Spanish by Juan Luis Curbón “Patela,” who exhibits an admirable skill; the swinging Gypsy jazz composition “El ratinho” by Steeve Laffont; the pleasure Flamenco-rooted instrumental “Suspiro” from Ramón Giménez Ximénez, better known as Ramón del Pichón; and the Flamenco rumba “Cositas del Maestro” by Toni Macias Heredia, artistically known as Nas Heredia.
The rest of the album features Steeve Laffont et William Brunard playing bossa nova on “Gipsy Mélancolie”; “Bossa Gitana” by Djelito Soles that combines bossa nova with rumba catalana and Flamenco; and the jazz-guitar influenced “Miro Djiben” by Fraïda.
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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.