If you like Antonio, you'll like this:

Posted by: MarkEJ on 10 April 2001

Album title: Aras
Artist: Curandero

...on Silverwave Records SD911

Band is:

Miguel Espinoza - guitar
Bela Fleck - banjo
Kai Eckhardt (yes, same one) - bass
Ty Burhoe - tabla(s) & percussion

Apparently this CD has been recently deleted, but there may be some stock about. Absolutely marvellous, captivating music beautifully captured ADD. Overall feel slightly like "Ghetto Paradise" only slightly more flamenco-y, and less laid back.

Grab it if you see it...

Best;

Mark

Posted on: 29 April 2001 by ken c
mark: this sounds like spanish guitar music, yes? i like this sort of music -- so will look out for this "deleted" record. any idea of best place to get it??

enjoy...

ken

Posted on: 22 May 2001 by MarkEJ
Sorry to take so long to reply; should have used "new posts" more often!

No , it's not exactly Spanish guitar music, any more than AF is! The best description I have seen of Curandero is "flamenco-funk", but this doesn't cover a tenth of it. It's very structured, but very informal, very disciplined, but very passionate, very precise, but very warm. All this is made very obvious when you listen to it because the (analogue) recording is probably among the best you'll ever hear. I found the recording so good that it's quality didn't occur to me until after the first play -- I found the music so involving as to completely displace any consideration of the "sound". The overiding impression is one of several people doing something which they love, and really concentrating because they love it. It sounds like it was recorded with everyone playing together and grinning at each other!

That's the best I can do. I was introduced to the album by a musician friend. He owned a CD, and cut me a CD-R copy. I was so impressed I had to get a real one, and found it was deleted, according to Amazon. However, a "Z-Shops" (link from amazon.co.uk) search found a single "used" copy in the US for USD12, which I ordered forthwith. It arrived three weeks later, and turned out to be not only sealed, but a "promo" copy as well, so I was doubly thrilled.

I think Naim ought to try getting hold of the master with a view to re-release, particularly as it has Kai Eckhardt on it.

Feel free to mail me off-forum if you can't find it anywhere... wink

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)

Posted on: 22 May 2001 by ken c
mark, many thanks. the description of their music interests me -- yours and another i have seen referring to a previous album.

"Curandero (Silverwave) by Miguel Espinoza and Ty Burhoe puts two fairly disparate traditions, Indian tablas and Spanish flamenco guitar, into a box and shakes well. What would seem an odd coupling works nicely, ...."

they were referring to one of their previous albums, but i guess this runs through all their material, yes?

have you heard any of their previous albums at all, such as:

- curandero
- flamenco passion ???

definitely sounds like its worth trying, so will get one sometime soon.

thanks for the recommendation mark,


enjoy

ken

Posted on: 23 May 2001 by MarkEJ
Ken;

quote:
they were referring to one of their previous albums, but i guess this runs through all their material, yes?

Definitely!

quote:
have you heard any of their previous albums at all, such as:

- curandero
- flamenco passion ???

Not yet; I'm on the lookout. However, I bought Kai Eckhardt's Naim CD, which is more cerebral and less passionate (but strongly recommended!). Also Bela Fleck (banjo) appears on Ginger Baker's "Falling off the Roof" which is more contemplative jazz.

I'm finding that "Aras" has that extraordinary ability to implant melodies in your head without you knowing -- they pop back into your consciousness at odd times, and they're never obvious "hooks"! It's just really special.

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)