Guitar Influences

Jose Feliciano, the genre of Bolero and also Flamenco are probably three main influences.

Jose Feliciano is generally a player I particularly identify with, I remember him on the radio as a sixties child and have been fortunate to see him several times. His earlier spanish songs like "Amor Gitano" that I often play, "Falsa Moneda", "El Dia Que Naci Yo" and "Lu y Sombra" show a similar format but have more complex chord progressions than mine. Some would say he is "Pop" but I think that is from the western music he's performed and not really of interest.

Then there is the Bolero - Nuevo Trova style of Cuba, Mexico and Latin singer-guitarists that I would identify with more than Flamenco. By Bolero I don't mean the opera. Bolero has spread throughout the world, including Vietnam and Tasmania. Inclusive of Bolero there are singer guitarists like Miguel Del Morales with songs like "Obsecion" or "Como Una Madrigal" and Alejandro Almenares - both Cuban (see documentary film "Cuba Feliz"). Then there's Buena Vista Social Club but that's a band and I'm more a soloist. Songs they sing are played by Flamenco singer Diego el Cigala. There are the songs of Consuelo Velazquez ("Besame Mucho"), Joan Baez and Atahualpa Yupanqui. Outside of Bolero, there are the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim from Brazil, many of which are jazz standards.

Flamenco has a rhythm all its own and people may associate what I do with that. Using Spanish Lyrics, the harmonic minor scale, a few rasquedos and the occasional Andalusian Cadence may be Flamenco in some peoples eyes but I guess my rhythm is more in keeping with Bolero. Flamenco "faves" would be Paco De Lucia ("Entre dos Aguas" - 1976), Vincente Amigo ("y los patois de Còrdoba"), Cameron de Isla ("Tus Ojillos Negros"), Diego el Cigala & Bebo Valdés ("Lágrimas Negras"), Canut Reyes (singer from the Gypsy Kings), "El Chalo" y "El Lirola" ("Entre dos Aguas" and "El Chalo Flamenco Encuentro con los Gitanos Españoles"). Search You Tube for any of these. I could not find many Flamenco singers that are guitarists as well. They seem to either just sing or play guitar but they may be out there if you look hard.

I don't know of many local Bolero type Tasmanian guitarist singers apart from myself. Its a bit of a rare style! There is a growing contingent of Columbians that something may spring from. There is Paul Gerard but he is more a Flamenco guitarist and is not a singer.