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Title: A Desert Island Disc
Review: When Encuentros first was issued in 1985, it was as if a tidal wave had swept me off my feet. Already a lover of flamenco, this was my introduction to music of Morocco, which eventually became an early focus of my studies. It was hardly a gross fusion, being Andalusian, if separated by a few centuries and influences. Juan Peña, El Lebrijano, was a major gypsy flamenco singer whose voice was not rough, as many, but rich and smooth yet passionate. The Arabo-Andalusian orchestra of Tangier is a well recognized performing ensemble of la classical suites and unique in including a woman vocalist. Together in this album, they weave Spanish and popular Moroccan tunes and language into perfect arrangements that are lively, danceable, and joyous. Brightly recorded, the album feels much too short, and we want it to go on and on. Welcome to the Kasbah; the exchange of musical idioms here has a long tradition. This is an excellent recording pure and simple.
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