Salsa Flamenca Young & Rollins by Marietta Berre

Rarely we find a debut album in which every song is as musically vibrant and masterfully performed. In Salsa Flamenca, Young and Rollins successfully combine flamenco and classical styles and techniques with jazz and blues harmonies and Latin rhythms. However, the impressive technique and level of skill displayed by both guitarists never take away from their soulful interpretations.
Nowadays, many groups in the United States are attempting such an eclectic fusion of styles only to discover immense complications. The difficulty lies in that it requires a complete understanding of every style to pick exactly the elements that can be transmuted and combined. In the title song, for example we find a nuevo flamenco melody accompanied by a salsa tumbao intercepted by such a distant rhythm as Puerto Rican plena. The all-instrumental CD includes only original compositions by Young and Rollins, Collaborating in this recording are percussionist Alfredo Mojica Jr., bassist Leonardo Lucini and drummer Alejandro Lucini. To be released in mid August (it can be already pre-ordered on-line on amazon.com) Salsa Flamenca is only one of this years’ best, an album to be treasured. The music of Young and Rollins is also featured in Baja/TSR Records compilation CD Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco which features songs by renowned new-flamenco guitarists such as Strunz & Farah, Oscar López, and others.