This show is, in a certain respect, properly termed...well, a disaster. But in other regards, it is far and away the most glorious show of Flamenco + Arabic Pop to date. For the last show of the 2007-8 year - F+AP’s first year of regular play - we were joined by the illustrious Jack O’Connor and Matt Shaffer for cutting edge commentary, and cigars. But it was also the show that saw Flamenco + Arabic Pop come closer than it ever has before to being kicked off the air, since apparently there’s a no smoking rule in the WYBC studios. It was also the show that saw such gems as the Scherzo from Bruckner’s 7th Symphony appear in mono due to technical errors, MP3s fail to deliver music, the CDs recorded in studio being partly corrupted, and the fact that there may or may not have been a set playlist does, at times, become discernible to the trained ear. However, there was a great selection of music, ending in Manolo Sanlúcar’s brilliant alegría/bulería de Cádiz, Puerta del Príncipe, and above all there is a such of pure triumph in the fact that no matter how many times Murphy’s Law strikes in one night, the staff here at Flamenco + Arabic Pop can pull off an enjoyable show and avoid the wrath of the WYBC Executive Board, to return for a second year on the air. See you in September.

Gustavo Montesano with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Tango Adagio (Albinoni: Adagio)
John Frusciante - A Corner
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Amr Diab - Khalleeny Ganbak
Anton Bruckner - Symphony No. 7 in E Major: III. Scherzo (Sehr schnell) (Skaatskapelle Dresden)
Unfortunate blur of noise that was supposed to be an MP3
Felix Mizrahi - Ya Msaharni (Partial, due to recording issues) (also a little bit of Lessa Faker, again due to technical issues)
José Mercé - Lío
The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, and also Adam Solomon, Jack O’Connor, and Matthew Shaffer - The Minstrel Boy
Manolo Sanlúcar - Puerta del Príncipe

Download:
Part 1: 128 kbps
Part 2: 128 kbps

- Adam