In my eternal quest to Prog Andaluz music, I stumbled upon this unique and very interesting musical project from 1966, probably the first musical encounter between flamenco and rock music!

In those days Joe Beck was a respected composer and rock guitarist, he had played in symphonic orchestras and performed with the top names in rock and jazz (from Tim Hardin to Steve Gadd). After making the album Middle Eastern Rock with Oud player John Berberian, Joes producer Harvey Cowen suggested Joe to do the same with flamenco and rock. He succeeded to recrute flamenco guitar legend Sabicas (1912-1990, thanks to Sabicas his brother Diego because he wanted Sabicas to scout the musical boundaries. Now Joe decided to assemble the best New York era musicians: drummer Donald McDonald (in The Satyrs he had jammed with Frank Zappa, Ritchie Havens and Jimi Hendrix), 20 year old bass player Tony Levin (introduced to jazz and rock by Steve Gadd, later he joined Peter Gabriel his band and King Crimson, playing on the distinctive Stick) and keyboardplayer Warren Bernhardt (he has accompanied singers like Donald Fagen, Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel, Ritchie Havens and Liza Minelli), wow, what an awesome line-up!

1.- Inca Song (5:15) : The first and final part deliver the jaw-dropping art of the flamenco guitar, from twanging and rhythm to speedy runs (picados), very exciting! Halfway an accellaration featuring a powerful rhythm-section, howling electric guitar and an organ solo. This is the typical 1966-1969 Sixties rock sound and its captivating to hear the blend of passionate flamenco guitarwork and raw rock.

2.- Joe's Tune (3:49) : This track contains a Morish atmosphere with flamenco guitar, jazzy piano and again howling electric guitar, culminating in an exciting duel between wah-wah drenched electric guitar and speedy flamenco guitar runs.

3.- Zapateado (9:36) : This word means tapping with the shoes, its all about speed and control in a cheerful climate. The first part contains pure flamenco with guitar and zapateado, the second part sounds like Jimi Hendrix inspired rock, two different worlds but very enthralling!

4.- Zambra (4:02) : The zambra is the most Morish influenced flamenco rhythm and Sabicas is a master in playing the zambra (my recommendation: the DVD Sabicas: King Of The Flamenco). You can also enjoy the tremolo technique (imagine the guitar piece Recuerdos De La Alhambra by F. Tarrega), wonderful! Then rock with organ and fiery guitar, very powerful with that warm undertone of The Sixties.

5.- Handclaps (0:31) : In the flamenco it is named palmas, a very distinctive part of the flamenco.

6.- Flamenco Rock (7:25) : Halfway this album the bands starts to rock, in a bluesy climate we can enjoy a blend of Hammond organ, howling electric guitar and exciting flamenco guitar (from picados to tremolo), this is great Prog Andaluz!

7.- Bulerias (7:25) : This track contains vocals in the flamenco tradition (very emotional), it fits perfectly with the compelling work on Hammond organ and sensitive electric guitar, the blend of flamenco and rock sounds like early Triana, goose bumps!

8.- Farruca (4:45) : The first part contains the art of the flamenco guitar (beautiful tremolo), then a slow rhythm with swirling Hammond organ, powerful drums and bass and Paco De Lucia-like flamenco guitar runs, again goose bumps, what a hot session!

The circumstances in the recording studio were not easy: it was hard to communicate between the Spanish guitarist and the English musicians and its still very difficult to amplify an acoustic guitar and also quickly overshadowed rock instruments like the drums, bass, guitar and organ. Sabicas was not really satisfied about the result (I did it for my brother) but in my opinion this album contains lots of captivating and exciting musical moments. And especially from the song Flamenco Rock the musicians seem to have reached a kind of chemistry, it sounds like embryonal Prog Andaluz. Highly recommended to all Prog Andaluz aficionados, fans of progressive folk music and adventurous progheads!

Erik Neuteboom