Alegrías
Giant Sand leader takes a soft left into flamenco-tinged gypsy folk that was recorded in Spain with a group of Andalucian gypsies.
On 2006's 'Sno Angel Like You, he fronted the Voices of Praise gospel choir. Four years later, it's flamenco music, a form many artists, American and European, have tried to work with and failed. Gelb wandered through Spain in search of flamenco. By chance, he wound up in Cordoba and met famed producer and musician Fernando Vacas, who introduced him to a slew of local musicians called A Band of Gypsies, led by famed guitarist Raimundo Amador (who has played with Björk and B.B. King). Gelb and this band -- including guitarists Juan Panki, Lin Cortés, and Añil Fernández on cajón -- recorded Alegrías on a rooftop in Cordoba. Mixed by John Parish, it was released in Spain on Vacas' Eureka imprint in June 2010, and was nominated as a finalist for best fusion album in the Premios de la Musica's 15ª Edicion awards.