Flamenco De Hoy (1992)

The title Flamenco de Hoy simply means Flamenco of today, both to distinguish it from the pre-Lucia days of Sabicas and to differentiate it from the so-called Nuevo Flamenco offshoots that arose in the wake of Ottmar Liebert but have precious little to do with the real progressive Flamenco as played by Gerardo Nuñez, Rafael Riqueni, Vicente Amigo, Juan-Manuel Cañizares, Pascal Gallo, Tomatito, Miguel Espinoza, Los Losadas and Adam del Monte. Despite Eric's ongoing curiosity about other genres, Flamenco de Hoy is modern Flamenco puro, replete with hair-raising Cante Jondo interludes. Roderik Westra's funky bass lines would have been unthinkable in Flamenco prior to Paco de Lucia's wholesale reinvention of the genre but have since become a mainstay, as has the occasional use of various lutes and oud with their unusual timbres in the context of classic Flamenco. Passion is what Flamenco de Hoy delivers but the bucket-load, ready to toss sprinkles as well as to drown you under massive downpours. (6moons.com)