Mucho Flamenco, other good CDs
By Angela García March 14, 2008 San Miguel de Allende


Flamenco show
Junta Flamenca
Fri, Mar 21, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
200 pesos

Flamenco dance is inextricably linked to flamenco music. Underneath all the dazzling aesthetics, cante and guitar act as guide, inspiration and raison d’être of corporal expresión—the dancer and the song are comrades in battle. To love flamenco dance is to love flamenco music. And before we get down to heel, toe and sole, let’s get familiar with the sound that gives meaning to those steps. 

A good starting point might be a few flamenco compilations. An example of vintage cante (to get to know the roots) is the double album Grandes maestros del flamenco, full of legendary voices and guitarists of yesteryear. As for modern flamenco, the most complete compilation might be Mucho flamenco, a double album featuring both established artists and promising newcomers to flamenco guitar and cante.

Bear in mind that most cantaores and guitarists, before they perform solo, spend years singing or playing para bailar, accompanying in dance companies or at flamenco tablaos. Chano Lobato was for years the voice behind legends such as Antonio and Matilde Coral. José Mercé spent many seasons as the cantaor of the Antonio Gades dance company. The most orthodox recordings of any of these artists could be useful to a bailaor.

Most of the songs which have been danced to and which continue to be danced to today form part of a timeless popular folk tradition. Thus the inspiration which the lyrics provide the bailaor is the same as it was back in the days of Juan Mojama or La Niña de los Peines. There’s the odd exception where bailaores get someone to write new lyrics expressly for a particular production, but for the most part the verses are chosen from the huge bank of folk poems.

So what is the current state of cante para bailar? The cantaores who currently accompany the leading figures of flamenco dance have a refreshing selection of discs to choose from. One of the vocalists best known for his work in this area is Guadiana. The cantaor from the region of Extremadura is a regular collaborator with the Antonio Canales company, as well as the songwriter for much of his music. Lines from his songs enter straight into the repertoire of his contemporaries. His latest album is a fine example: Brillo de luna..