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Paco

A correspondent had recommended the album Friday Night in San Francisco by the all-star guitar trio of Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía, and I'd checked it out, but for me it seemed a tad too heavy on virtuosity for its own sake. A year or two later I spotted the present LP, Paco, in one of my usual haunts, recalled the recommendation, and thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did, as it proved much more to my liking.

It's the 1975 UK release (on Island Records) of a record that had been previously been issued in the Spanish-speaking world under the title Fuente Y Caudal. Ralph Denyer's sleeve-notes say it was de Lucía's sixth album overall, but the first to be issued in the UK. Frustratingly, a manufacturing mix-up has left my copy with the Side B label on both sides of the LP.

The opening track 'Entre Dos Agaus' blends de Lucía's native flamenco style with South American ingredients to beguiling effect. Elsewhere things are more specifically Andalusian, such as on the title track, and the one following it (my favourite) 'Cepa Andaluza' on which the irresistably rhythmic guitar is accompanied by 'palmas' (handclap percussion) and shouted exhortations of ¡Olé! and suchlike in the background.

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