Rumba
Flamenca may have been defined by the Gipsy Kings
but it’s a genre in development. It’s also a
discipline that pushes a guitarists techniques and
talents to the max. That’s why Doug Towle was deeply
honoured to be selected from thousands of entries as
one of the top ten guitarists in North America by
the editorial staff of the venerable Guitar Player
Magazine (no small feat). Doug proves himself up to
the challenge and worthy of the praise on his new
album Desire, Heat & Spirit; a volatile mix indeed.
It’s also a vibrant journey that displays how far
and into how many different styles he has pushed
Rumba Flamenca. The fifteen tracks clock in at
almost 70 minutes of acoustic shredding through
salsa, Latin jazz, Spanish guitar and even the
reggae one-drop (Ism Skism is definitely worth a
listen). Other standouts include Taking Flight, Luna
Rojo, Natasha and my personal favorite, Alcatraz
which, true to the title, rocks big time.
Worldbeat
Album Reviews by Cal Koat
It
should go without saying that the guitarist
discovered by Guitar Player magazine has made a
dazzling album. This hour of "Latin jazz and Spanish
guitar" makes a strong first impression -- all speed
and precision with rhythm and spice.
Tom Harrison, The Province
“A breath of fresh air, beautiful
nylon string playing”
Steve Lukather, Toto
“Eminently listenable, highly
danceable, sangria for the soul."
Alex Browne, Peace Arch News
"Exciting
stuff...the audience went nuts!"
Jennifer Batten, Michael Jackson
