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SONGLINES - Jan/Feb 2006 edition Trio Gitano Who Ate All The Tapas? **** Good music by the plateful The three guitarists of Trio Gitano (Jamie Fekete, Sophie Johnson and Sam Slater) have probably spent more time in Birmingham's Bullring than anyone you'd find in Spain. But that doesn't stop their debut from oozing with cool Gypsy jazz. They met as members of the Birmingham School's Guitar Ensemble, started touring as a trio in 2001 and finished recording this album in October 2004. It's a hugely impressive collection that draws from flamenco, Latin and Gypsy jazz. The album launches straight in with the 'Latin Swing', by musical director Bryan Lester. It's a piece that clearly sets out this group's strengths: bold, expressive playing that's liberatingly inventive. And that's an important quality when you're young players treading some well worn ground. There's Django Reinhardt's 'Minor Blues' and the 'Adagio' from Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, which features the beautifully melancholic flugelhorn of Bryan Corbett. And even that old crowd-pleasing chestnut 'Take 5' manages to burst out of its shell tasting surprisingly fresh. But, for my money, Bryan Lester's own material is the reason to keep coming back to this CD, with both 'Spanish Cinema' and the four tracks that comprise 'Heroes', being real standouts. If you want the flavour of Spain and you love the guitar, then this is the musical equivalent of tucking into a plate of pan-fried chorizo. - Matt Swaine
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