Vicente Amigo

Veteran flamenco guitarist Amigo landed his first Latin Grammy in 2001 with this album -- and a 2002 Ondas award. Amigo's skills are undeniable, and his jazz-influenced take on flamenco, while it might take time to get used to (for trad flamenco fans), rarely loses sight of the basics. His thoughtful playing is usually underpinned by the insistent palmas that rescue it from sentimentality. Standouts include the meditative solea "Cordoba" and the title track, whose name is taken from a classic Greek poem. Cheb Khaled and Diego el Cigala guest, as does a who's who of Spanish percussionists.