David Russell - Sonidos Latinos: Guitar Music of Latin America (2010)

This recital by renowned soloist David Russell presents the works of four Latin American masters of the guitar: Augustín Barrios Mangoré, Manuel María Ponce, Héctor Ayala, Armando Neves, and Jorge Morel.

One of the great pioneers of classical guitar, Augustín Barrios Mangoré was one of the first Latin American guitarists to appear successfully in Europe and one of the first guitarists to record. Featured on this recording is Mangoré’s “Maxixe” which is based on the Brazilian dance that became popular in Rio de Janeiro in the 1870s. Manuel María Ponce was one of the most distinguished and influential figures in Mexican music. He arranged Tres Cancíones Populares Mexicanas from 1925-26 for Segovia.

Two of the pieces on the disc written by Argentine-American guitarist and composer Jorge Morel are dedicated to David Russell, “Recuerdos del Caribe” is filled with the flavors and rhythms of the West Indies, whilst “Mangoré” is a tribute to Augustín Barrios Mangoré. Even though his career was focused on tango, Héctor Ayala still had a thorough understanding of other Latin American musical styles, as demonstrated by his “Serie Americana”.