Armando's Fire - 357

Amazon.com If someone were to invent a category called "smooth flamenco," Armando's Fire by acoustic guitarist Oscar Lopez would qualify--and probably stand as one of the more attractive entries in the field. Lopez, born in Chile and a resident of Canada since 1979, is a skilled, often exciting player who, on his third release, displays a preference for melody and accessibility over flamboyant virtuosity. This approach yields a handsome, polished assortment of flamenco-minded instrumentals (with traces of jazz and pop elements) that generally favors romanticism over showmanship. It's not exactly a sleepy album, though after a rousing, trumpet-powered opener (the title track), the recording's prevailing mood (near medium on the heat index) is established in the second piece, the subdued, sweetly flowing "Walking Through the Pyramid." Lopez and his ensemble, in fact, only work up a lather one other time on the disc ("Dance of the Sun"). Yet Lopez (whose middle name is Armando) demonstrates exquisite fingerwork throughout, and his compositions (the charming "Gypsy Soul," the warm, breezy "Frontiers," the animated "Latino") are refined and flavorful--smooth, with an elevated sense of style. --Terry Wood Review It's hard to believe that some of the best flamenco music around is coming from Canada, but with Oscar Lopez - originally from Chile, but adopting Calgary as his home - the only thing those South Park kids will be blaming Canada for this year is instantly lovable exotic music. Though both Cook and Lopez are flamenco-based, the latter displays more straightforward Latin influences. On Armando's Fire, Lopez chooses one tune on which to blend his gentle sense of melody and romance with throbbing hip-hop; on "Other Faces (Otras Caras)," he intertwines two delicate high-tone lines - one melody, one harmony - over a thumping, programmed drum pattern as synth strings swirl easily in the background. The disc was produced by Frayne T. Lewis - son of piano legend Ramsey - so it's no surprise that there's a prominent piano harmony line and room for an upper-register ivory solo (courtesy of Kevin Randolph) on tunes like the smooth-jazz ballad "Walking Through the Pyramid" and the more exotic "Latino." Randolph also adds a synth-generated accordion texture to "Gypsy Soul," giving the plucky Spanish tune a playful French twist. There are numerous emotional ups and downs here, but Lopez seems to have the best time on snazzy fiestas like the title track, which gallops along for a spell before Alejo Poveda's wild percussion and vocal chanting, along with Orbert Davis' blistering Arturo Sandoval-like trumpet work, push Lopez into overdrive trying to keep up. --- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz
ASIN: B00004WJXT
VSKU: GGV.B00004WJXT.LN
Condition: Like New
Author/Artist:Lopez, Oscar
Binding: Audio CD