Flamenco and Tango

For Flamenco, Paco De Lucia. While some recordings are not flamenco in the purest sense of the word, he is an amazing guitarist and if not pure flamenco, very close. He did a series of albums on Phillips that are very good. Check out "Friday Night in San Fransisco" with Al Dimeola and John McLaughlin as well as his solo projects. For more traditional flamenco try Ricaardo Ballardo. He is known as Manitas de Plata, which translates to hands of silver. I have a 1965 book of the month club box set that is outstanding. I just looked on eBay and there a few sets up for auction. Look under Manitas de Plata. Carlos Montoya is also a well known artist but not my favorite. A lot of his playing sacrifices artistry for flash. But he is worth checking out as he may be more to your tastes than mine. Avoid Ottmar Liebert like the plauge. A bunch of new age schlock masquerading as flamenco.

Bwhite, your points are well taken. Paco De Lucia is one of my favotite artists and I agree that his explorations of other genres in no way detracts from his artistry. For one of his albums that blends traditional Flamenco with a little twist try "Solo Quiero Caminar" on Phillips. The rhythms, progressions, and singing draw heavily on the traditional with some non-traditional instruments thrown in to good effect.

As for pure flamenco being difficult, it is the singing that is the hardest to acquire a taste for. It can sound a bit like a spanish cat with his family jewels in a vise to the uninitiated. But I like it.

Another good album in a more traditional style is "gypsy flamenco" by Carlos Heredia on Chesky. Very well recorded to Chesky's usual standards. A lot of the aforementioned cat wailing, excellent stuff.