Hecho a mano

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 1997 by Rudolph Mangual

CHANO DOMINGUEZ

(Nuba Records)

When we think of Flamenco music, guitars and soulful vocals rapidly come to mind. Rhythms with names like fandango, bulerias, tangos, solea, and seguidillas are the language of this musical artform. Yet without a doubt, the most innovating exponent in the world of Flamenco music today is not a singer or a guitarist but a pianist by the name of Chano Dominguez. A native of Cadiz, Spain, Chano took the music his father made him love and integrated it to the piano. After mastering this musical genre his next explorations would take him into the terrain of jazz. His previous recording, Chano (1993) exhibited the beginnings of these tendencies which instantly ignited the music scene and both musical disciples. Hecho a mano (Handmade) unveils a truly developed masterpiece between both musical styles, Flamenco and jazz, bringing their nucleus closer than ever before. Freedom in its true sense flows everywhere, fandangos transforming into jazz passages and swing rhythms carrying a taste of tanguillos. In other words, Dominguez has found the right blend to cook some tasty flamenco-jazz or perhaps like his friends call it "Chaneando" (doing Chano's thing). The twelve tracks in the CD exceed all expectations from the artist's previous work. My personal favorites are Bubango, Cilantro y comino, and Solo con verte. Excellent work by band members Javier Colina on bass, Guillermo Mcguill on drums, Tino di Geraldo on percussion and guitarists Tomatito, Antonio Toledo, Nono Garcia, and Tito Alcedo. Ala....