We welcome back Judy Cantor-Navas, Managing Editor of Billboard En Espanol for this Latin Roots segment on flamenco. Much about the origins of this music is contested. Yes, it is now strongly associated with Spain but some say its beginnings actually stretch back to India. It is also strongly associated with the Spanish city of Sevilla but Judy tells us that is also contested.
What is not at all in question is that this is a style of music that is dominated by strong performers. In this session we hear a classic flamenco performance from
Cameron de la Isla who 20 years ago revitalized the genre and today is still called the greatest flamenco singer that ever lived. Judy calls him the "Bob Marley" of Flamenco!
So much experimentation has gone on in the genre that today people don't so much refer to "pure flamenco" as much as "lo mas flamenco," the most flamenco. Judy plays us a modern example from Estrella Morrente who brings a rock element into the style.