The title
Viva Sevilla is Spanish for "Long Live Seville," and it is the flamenco heritage of Seville, Spain that
Compania Flamenca Alhama celebrates on this inspired, if conventional, CD. Recorded on the ensemble's 1994 tour,
Viva Sevilla takes an essentially traditional approach to flamenco. On this CD, you won't hear any of the electric bass or keyboards that are prominent in modern nuevo flamenco -- nor will you find a heavy dose of pop, rock, or salsa elements. The passionate guitars of
Antonio Andrade and Jose Luis Scott and the emotional vocals of Paco Gil and Luis Amador are heard in an all-acoustic environment, and the percussive element comes from the time-honored art of zapateados y palmas.
Viva Sevilla isn't innovative or groundbreaking, but it definitely pleases. ~ Alex Henderson