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Mel Bay presents Juan Serrano Flamenco Guitar
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Flamenco guitar virtuoso Juan Serrano divides this unique video into technical and performance segments. In the first part, he teaches and demonstrates the basic elements of flamenco music. In the second part, he plays four outstanding concert solos in its entirety. A video expert by a guitarist known around the world for its innovative engineering, flawless.
Mel Bay presents Juan Serrano Flamenco Guitar
Just as a pyramid’s top is supported by all the stones below – so our modern Flamenco music is supported by it’s musical ancestor/innovators. Ramon Montoya, Sabicas and Nino Ricardo are the three most important to merit this distinction.
The credit for elevating Flamenco Guitar to it’s present foreground status belongs to a gypsy born into a family of cattle traders in 1880 – Ramon Montoya. Although like countless guitarists before him Montoya began his career accompanying singers and dancers, he eventually began performing solo. This effectively signaled an end to the purely accompanying role of the guitar.
Ironically, it was Montoya’s nephew – Carlos Montoya – who was most responsible for focusing International attention on the solo Flamenco Guitar. He composed and performed in virtually every country from the 20′s through the 50′s. Even filling the Houston astrodome! And basing himself in New York.
As a result of this strange situation, today the most famous Montoya is Carlos – not Ramon. Curiously, Ramon didn’t like his nephews style, and offered him no encouragement. As a result, the village barber was Carlos Montoya’s first guitar teacher. However, the acheivement of being Flamenco Guitar’s first solo performer rests with Ramon Montoya.
Building on the contributions of Ramon Montoya, and further refining them – Sabicas, collaborating with male singers, was particularly noted for his infallible rhythm. Sabicas toured South America with the dancer Carmen Amaya, after leaving Spain in 1936 with the outbreak of civil war. Sabicas, like Carlos Montoya, was a major force in presenting Solo Flamenco outside of Spain. Sabicas impressed with blazing picados(runs), fast arpeggios, quality compositions, and his reputed perfect pitch. The late Guitar great Chet Atkins once commented in an interview: ‘The best technique around has got to be Sabicas, the Flamenco player.’
Seville’s bars and taverns were the first concert halls for the child prodigy – Nino Ricardo. Ricardo, celebrated as the best player of his day, was a major force in the Flamenco guitar’s evolution. The early years playing in the bars and taverns of his native Seville gave Nino the opportunity to develop many of his elaborate and rhythmically remarkable compositions. Nino had a unique playing style and tone, owing to upward curving fingernails. Sadly, liver failure claimed Nino Ricardo at the age of 68.
One of the most noteable of the many fine guitarists who have inherited the traditions of Flamenco’s ‘Founding Fathers’ is Santiago Cortez’Founding Fathers’ – one of the most noteworthy is santiago cortez. Not for blazing runs or other technical ‘flash’ – but for his unique ability to respect tradition while innovating. And more particularly, for his eclectic taste as a composer and performer. Santiago’s compositions, instantly familiar but never derivative, seamlessly blend elements of Jazz, Rock, Pop, Classical, Folk, Celtic, Reggae and World Music. With his unique ‘Flamenco Fusion’, Santiago is honoring and expanding the legacy of the Montoyas, Sabicas, and Nino Ricardo.
