Pata Negra

Before breaking up in 1989, Pata Negra had the distinction of being among the few Spanish groups that had as much to do with nuevo flamenco (a modern style fusing flamenco guitar with pop, salsa, jazz or other forms) as it did with the rock en espanol movement (Latin rock with Spanish lyrics). Led by singer/guitarist Rafael Amador and his brother, guitarist Raimundo Amador, Pata Negra was anything but predictable. The Amador siblings were seriously into American rock and blues, but they also loved jazz and, of course, flamenco. Drawing on albums Pata Negra recorded in the 1980s, this excellent CD finds the band doing everything from combining flamenco with Django Reinhardt-type jazz on "How High the Moon" to playing electric blues-rock on "Blues De Los Ninos." In fact, both "Blues De Los Ninos" and the lively "Camaron" are essential listening for rock en espanol enthusiasts. Most of the albums that the Amador brothers came out with in the 1980s are worth owning, but for those exploring their innovations for the first time, The Best of Pata Negra would be the most logical starting point. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi