Rating:
Genre:
New Age
Release Date: 04/25/2006
Lara & Reyes,
Strunz & Farah,
Acoustic Alchemy. No offense to
nouveau flamenco pioneer
Ottmar Liebert, but for some reason, no matter how engaging an acoustic guitarist can be working solo, there's a special magic that happens when two brilliant players mix attitudes, melodies, rhythms, and sensuality. Especially when it comes to the kind of magical
flamenco-flavored material favored by the Washington, D.C.-based duo of
Lawson Rollins and
Dan Young. The vibrant, rolling grooves, colorful percussion, and snappy strings of the opening title cut -- combined with the graceful, swaying breezes of
"Mediterranean Romance" -- will provide a familiar
flamenco touch for the listener. But
Young & Rollins don't call their project
Mosaic just because it's a pretty word that sounds exotic. They really weave a lot of different textures together, including
salsa,
Latin jazz,
blues,
reggae,
bossa nova, and
classical styles. As engaging as the tunes and the bright productions are, those who listen closely are bound to find themselves intoxicated by the intricate weavings of the two guitars around the ever-present rhythms of percussionist
Alfredo Mojica. His tribal booms and sizzling pitter-patter behind the brisk guitar lines of
"Fuego Gitano" are a highlight on a disc that is uniformly engaging and brilliant.
~Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
;)
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