By: Robert Silverstein
arely is flamenco guitar performed as eloquently as it is on the latest CD
by Canadian flamenco master Roger Scannura. Having recorded four studio
albums over the past ten years, the guitarist assembles ten of the finest
tracks in his repertoire on his fifth CD, a career overview entitled Encore!
Originally from Malta, Scannura studied for years with the flamenco guitar
masters in southern Spain, absorbing the lifestyle and music of the Gypsies.
In 1995, Scannura formed the Toronto-based Ritmo Dance Company with his
wife, flamenco choreographer Valeria Scannura. Amid the guitar mastery on
Encore!, Scannura even breaks out the electric guitar on "Angelica". An
eight track masterpiece of flowing, accesible Nuevo Flamenco and Afro-Cuban
sounds tastefully seasoned with artful violin, percussion and palmas/vocal
accompaniement, Encore! is an intriguing and artfully recorded instrumental
flamenco guitar music played with just the right amount of passion and
grace.
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