| |
Part one: Luis Salinas Group
 This gaucho guitarist is one of the essential figures of the Argentine music scene. Guitar hero of the ‘latin jazz fusion’ ilk, he nonetheless pays homage to tango and to Argentine folklore. Endorsed by the likes of George Benson, Baden Powel and BB King amongst others, this multi-talented guitarist amazes as soon as his fingers touch the strings. Not many axemen can strike the chords with such range, speed, finesse, precision and emotion. Each number he undertakes becomes a moment of enlightenment.
Whether it’s Atahualpa Yupanqui, Baden Powel or Django Reinhart – without forgetting a good sprinkling of Tango of course – it’s a real treat for the ears, whether they are familiar or not with this kind of music. Lying on top of an already impressive discography, his album ‘solo Guitarra’ is a little gem, to be listened to in copious quantities. For all guitar lovers who do not know him yet, Luis Salinas is likely to be one of the big revelations of this year’s festival.
official website
Part two: Juan Carmona y Grupo
 Like Paco de Lucia and Vincente Amigo, Juan has helped open up new paths for flamenco without ever falling into extreme modernism. Composer and virtuoso he’s as comfortable playing his Rhapsodie Flamenca with the Potsdam Philamonic Orchestra as he is accompanying Larry Coryell or Birelli Lagrene for some mind boggling improvisation. His own works are deeply liberating, audacious and in perpetual motion. Yehudi Menuhin considered him an exceptional guitarist. He now enjoys a world wide reputation, as his touring in Europe and America attests. The dancer Manual Gutirrez, star of both the Romancero Gitano and Barrio Flamenco shows does not content himself with just being an appendage to the music. Indeed, he often seems to be the instigator, such is his tight communion with Juan Carmona. Chances are that this festival’s magical setting will lend itself rather well to this concert full of Mediterranean marvel.
official website
|
|
