PACO DE LUCIA (1947 - ∞)!

The absolute Spanish flamenco guitar master Paco de Lucia dies at 66.

He is seen here performing at Las Palomas bull ring in Algeciras, Spain, in September 2006

A leading proponent of the New Flamenco style, he is one of the first flamenco guitarists who has also successfully crossed over into other genres of music such as classical and jazz. Richard Chapman and Eric Clapton, authors of Guitar: Music, History, Players, describe de Lucía as a "titanic figure in the world of flamenco guitar", and Dennis Koster, author of Guitar Atlas, Flamenco, has referred to de Lucía as "one of history's greatest guitarists".

De Lucía is noted for his innovation and colour in harmony and his remarkable dexterity, technique, strength and fluidity in his right hand, capable of executing extremely fast and fluent picados. A master of contrast, he often juxtaposes picados with rasgueados and other techniques and often adds abstract chords and scale tones to his compositions with jazz influences. These innovations saw him play a key role in the development of traditional Flamenco and the evolution of New Flamenco and Latin jazz fusion from the 1970s.

De Lucía achieved acclaim for his recordings with flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla in the 1970s, recording 10 albums together. Some of his best known recordings include "Río Ancho" (later fused with Al Di Meola's "Mediterranean Sundance"), "Entre dos aguas", "La Barrosa", "Ímpetu", "Cepa Andaluza" and "Gloria al Niño Ricardo". His collaborations with guitarists John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Larry Coryell in the late 1970s saw him gain wider popularity outside his native Spain.

De Lucia formed the Paco de Lucía Sextet in 1981 with his brothers, singer Pepe de Lucía and guitarist Ramón de Algeciras, and collaborated with jazz pianist Chick Corea on their 1990 album, Zyryab. In 1983 he appeared in Carlos Saura's film Carmen, for which he was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Score. In 1992, he performed live at Expo '92 in Seville and a year later on the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.

In 2004, he won the Prince of Asturias Awards in Arts and in 2010, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since 2004 he has greatly reduced his live performances in public, has retired from full touring, and now typically only gives several concerts a year, usually in Spain and Germany and at European festivals during the summer months. In 2005, he was nominated for producer of the year by the Latin Grammy Award for La Tana's Tu, Ven a Mi album.

Have a safe journey, Maestro!

ON THE AIR: JOHN FRUSCIANTE 'CURTAINS'!

Curtains is the ninth solo album by John Frusciante, released on February 1, 2005 on Record Collection. The album is primarily an acoustic album, in contrast to his previous work, recorded at his Hollywood Hills home. According to Frusciante, the album was recorded in his living room: "It was just me sitting on a pillow, on my living room floor, with my back leaning against the couch." The album features contributions from Autolux drummer Carla Azar, upright bassist Ken Wild, and The Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López, with Frusciante noting, "Carla from the band Autolux plays drums. I loved having a feminine energy. My friend Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of the Mars Volta played some guitar. He and I do these solos together where we're using the same amp at the same time." A video made in Frusciante's house was released for "The Past Recedes" (click here to watch). *The solo in the recording is played on his 12 string acoustic in the authentic version. However in the music video the filmmakers did not want him to change guitars in the middle.

The vinyl edition of the record saw a repressing from Record Collection on December 11, 2012. These reissued records are 180 gram and come with a download of choice between MP3 and WAV formats of the album.

All songs written by John Frusciante.

1. "The Past Recedes" – 3:53
2. "Lever Pulled" – 2:22
3. "Anne" – 3:35
4. "The Real" – 3:06
5. "A Name" – 2:03
6. "Control" – 4:29
7. "Your Warning" – 3:33
8. "Hope" – 1:56
9. "Ascension" – 2:52
10. "Time Tonight" – 3:12
11. "Leap Your Bar" – 2:36

In my opinion, this is the greatest album ever. Have a good night and enjoy - headphones on!

MR GARY CLARK JR, THE NEW FACE OF THE BLUES!

WHAT IF HE DIDN'T DIE?

Few months ago, 12 previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix recordings from 1968 and 1969 were made available as People, Hell and Angels. The legendary guitarist was experimenting with new sounds and musical directions for First Rays of the New Rising Sun, the planned double-album follow-up to Electric Ladyland, and on "Somewhere," Hendrix sits down with Buddy Miles on drums and Stephen Stills on bass for a far-reaching psychedelic blues jam. Recorded in 1968, "Somewhere" rides signature Hendrix wails, long exploratory solos and free-flowing wordplay. Rolling Stone's Greatest Guitarist of All Time shows why he's earned that title with unparalleled skill and eternally innovative sounds, but "Somewhere" suggests his most complex work may have only been ahead of him..

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'!

 I think on Saturdays people should only be allowed to listen to music..

GUITAR HEROES: GEORGE BENSON!

George Benson is one of the greatest Jazz Guitarists in history and a ten-time Grammy Award-winning. He began his professional career at twenty-one, first caming to prominence in the 1960s, playing soul jazz with Jack McDuff and others. 'Take five' is a cover of Dave Brubeck.

MORNING SHOT!

And I think the guy at 0:55 had way too many.

SABICAS' FLAMENCO!

Sabicas (Agustín Castellón Campos) was a Flamenco guitarist, of Romani origin, who was born on 16 March 1912 in Pamplona, Spain and died in 14 April 1990 in New York. 

Sabicas began playing guitar at the age of 4 and made his performing debut 2 years later. Leaving Spain in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, he went into exile in South America with bailaora (dancer) Carmen Amaya. Sabicas later settled in New York City in the United States. He did not return to his native Spain until 1967.

Sabicas was instrumental in the introduction of Flamenco to audiences outside of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. He was a standout of his day, not only with technique, but with major contributions, playing Flamenco previously unimaginable and giving new tools and possibilities for the solo instrument. He brought this art to concert halls and major theaters where all classes can enjoy. 

Notable contemporary players such as Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Serranito, Juan Manuel Cañizares, El Viejín, Vicente Amigo, Gerardo Nuñez and many more claim large influence from Sabicas' music.

"A Strat is Born" takes you on a high-speed ride through the creation of a Fender Stratocaster guitar at Fender's U.S. manufacturing facility in Corona, Calif., showing you every step from bare wood to onstage and set to a pulse-pounding soundtrack by Wayne Kramer.

www.fender.com

FASHIONSPAM RECOMMENDS: JOHN MAYER'S PARADISE VALLEY (2013)!

Paradise Valley is the sixth studio album by musician John Mayer. It was officially released today. The album’s title is derived from a major river valley of the Yellowstone River with the same name, located in southwestern Montana. Read more about the album on rollingstone.com

Shop on iTunes & Amazon!

JOHN FRUSCIANTE - UNREACHABLE!

Have a peaceful Tuesday!

BUDDY GUY 77TH: RHYTHM & BLUES (2013)!

To mark his 77th birthday today, Buddy Guy releases perhaps his finest album. Rhythm & Blues is a two-disc set — one of high-energy R&B, the other of richly textured Chicago-style blues — produced by his longtime collaborator/drummer, Tom Hambridge.

There's no coasting or padding: All but three of the 21 songs are high-quality originals, some autobiographical; the guests, including Kid Rock (on a rollicking cover of Messin' With the Kid), Gary Clark Jr., Keith Urban, members of Aerosmith and Beth Hart (on the stellar What You Gonna Do About Me), more than pull their weight.

"DAMN RIGHT I GOT THE BLUES!" Buddy may be the only one older than Mick Jagger to be able to sing the line, "She's 19-years-old ..." and cause a woman in the audience who sounded 19 to scream in response.

Buy here: iTunes & Amazon!

NICK WATERHOUSE LIVE ON KEXP!

Nick Waterhouse performs live in The Roadhouse on KEXP. Recorded May 30, 2012.

CHUCK BERRY VS KEITH RICHARDS!

"..Leave the amp as i set it! That's my amp and I'm setting it the way i wish it!...That's the way Chuck Berry plays it, you understand?!"

From the documentary "Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll!" by Taylor Hackford. Have a nice evening!

N.A.S.A. - WAY DOWN (FEAT. RZA, BARBIE HATCH, JOHN FRUSCIANTE)!

B.B. KING - THE THRILL IS GONE FT. TRACY CHAPMAN!

You can call it exquisite music. Have a nice weekend!

ERIC CLAPTON - MTV UNPLUGGED (FULL CONCERT)!

On 16 January 1992 Eric Clapton performed a show in front of a small audience at Bray Film Studios in Windsor, England for MTV Unplugged. 

For the Unplugged album (released in the same year) Clapton earned six Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Rock Male Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song. "Tears in Heaven" earned three of the six awards. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200, and has been certified Diamond by the RIAA for shipping over 10 million copies in the United States. In 2000 Qmagazine placed Unplugged at number 71 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums. In October 2011, the album was ranked number nine (between Iron Maiden's Fear of the Dark and Stone Temple Pilots' Core) on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992. 

Commenting on the popularity of the album in his 2007 autobiography, Clapton wishes the reader to understand its great emotional toll, and suggests that they visit the grave of his son Conor in Ripley in order to do so.

Clapton played a Martin 000-42 acoustic guitar for much of this performance, and in 2004, the guitar sold for $791,500 in auction.

"Signe" (Clapton) -- 0:0
"Before You Accuse Me" (McDaniel) -- 3:14
"Hey Hey" (Broonzy) -- 7:12
"Tears in Heaven" (Clapton/Jennings) -- 10:41
"Lonely Stranger" (Clapton) -- 15:55
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" (Cox) -- 21:20
"Layla" (Clapton/Gordon) -- 25:10
"Running on Faith" (Williams) -- 29:39
"Walkin' Blues" (Johnson) -- 36:05
"Alberta" (Traditional) -- 40:00
"San Francisco Bay Blues" (Fuller) -- 44:55
"Malted Milk" (Johnson) -- 48:20
"Old Love" (Clapton/Cray) -- 52:00
"Rollin' and Tumblin'" (Waters) -- 59:35

RHCP - WHATEVER WE WANT!

THE ROLLING STONES - DOOM AND GLOOM!

'Doom And Gloom' marks the first time that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood have been in the studio together for seven years. The single was recorded in Paris and produced by longtime Rolling Stones producer Don Was, who has worked with the band on five previous albums (Voodoo Lounge/ Stripped/ Bridges To Babylon/ Licks Live/ A Bigger Bang)

PACO DE LUCIA, LIVE AT JAZZTAGE 2010!

Have a nice day!