Flamenco Road is an album by Michael Laucke, released on September 12, 2001. The album consists mainly of his own compositions in the new flamenco style, which he also arranged. In an interview for Voir magazine, Laucke stated: "It is also very influenced by my classical background. So it's a smoother flamenco." An example of this style from the album can be heard in Laucke's treatment of the well-known classical guitar transcription "Leyenda", which is given a flamenco rendition using several percussion instruments (claves, maracas, special castanets mounted on wood blocks, chimes, and a large gong), bass, and flute.
Ten works were recorded at five different studios, each selected for its specific acoustics, in Montreal, Canada. The instrumentation for the recording's title piece, "Flamenco Road", required the use of a 24-track recording system; a Voir magazine article declared it to be the first recording in this style to employ 24 tracks. The instrumentation comprises a combination of four types of guitars—flamenco, Spanish, classical, and electric—and all natural acoustic guitars are played the Spanish way, using all the fingers of the right hand without a pick. The rhythm section includes "bongos, four congas, and a rock drum set blended with other percussion instruments such as claves, maracas, and castanets". It further incorporates "three dancers performing typical 'palmas' (hand-clapping) in synchronization", as well as three trumpets, three pianos, and a "country-style" violinist.
The enhanced CD includes two videos: one with interactive live concert footage filmed during Laucke's tenth season at Montreal's Place des Arts, and the other with the video clip of "Flamenco Road". The latter reached number one on video charts across Canada for five consecutive weeks. The Journal-Pioneer opined "Flamenco Road is an absolute joy to behold".
Track listing
TitleTimingComposer 1. Flamenco Road 3’18 Michael Laucke 2. The Hero 5’07 Michael Laucke 3. Between two Seas (Entre dos Aguas) 5’25 Paco de Lucia, arr. Laucke4. Danza 3’25 Michael Laucke)5. Wide River (Rio Ancho) 4’44 Paco de Lucia, arr. Laucke6. The Legend 6’52 Albeniz, arr. Laucke7.La Femme6’05Robert Coxon/Laucke8.Gymnopedie no. 12’55Erik Satie, arr. Laucke9.Gymnopedie no. 22’27Erik Satie, arr. Laucke10.Gymnopedie no. 32’03Erik Satie, arr. Laucke
Musicians
Michael Laucke – Spanish and classical guitars (solo, rhythm and fill tracks) Marie-Josée Guilbeault – violinist Oscar Martinez – Trumpets Paul Pivetta – electric guitar Réggie Larko – Falseta vocals and keyboards Rob Roy – Bass Guitar Robert Dethiers – Percussionist
Production credits
Studio: Terra Nova Studios & Créason (for Flamenco Road ), Montreal, Canada Sound Engineer: Pierpaolo (Paul) Pivetta and Jean-Guy Monpetit (Flamenco Road) Mix: Pierpaolo (Paul) Pivetta, Michael Laucke and Jean-Guy Monpetit (Flamenco Road) Mastering: Terra Nova Studios (Pierpaolo [Paul] Pivetta) and Sono Design (Carl Talbot) for Flamenco Road Photos: Stéphane Dumais (M.Laucke), Lorenna Solervicens (musicians and dancers) ADAT Transfers: François LickeDesign Coordinator:Mike Henderson, Justin Time Records Inc. MontrealJacket Design:Tom Krilly, Visual Communications Source, MontrealProducer:Michael LauckeOfficial sponsor:D’Addario guitar strings (D’Addario J45•Normal Tension and J29•Moderate Tension on Classical and Flamenco guitars respectively.)
Enhanced CD (multimedia) portion
+Video production : Artistic director: Geneviève BlaisFinal editing:Jean-François Proteau, Michael Laucke Photography director: François Dagenais Production: Michèle Grondin & Denis Fortin Production director: Vicky Lessard Production house: Rafale Films, MontrealStylist:José CanoVideo editing:Patrick LaRoque Video producer: Jean-François (Jeff) Proteau
+Multimedia production: Audio resync: Philippe Melançon, OBJECTIF, Montreal, Canada Computer compiling: Michael Laucke Design coordinator: Mike Henderson, Justin Time Records Inc. Montreal DV transferring: Philippe Melançon, CINOK, Montreal, Canada Graphics: Tom Krilly, Visual Communications Source, Montreal Multimedia compiling: Michael Laucke
Media
Audio
Video
References