Cositas Buenas
For four decades, Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia's jazzy, Mephisto-like  technique redefined flamenco. This CD, which means "Good Small Things," is  de Lucia’s first release in five years, and it's been worth the wait. Most of the  eight tracks feature just de Lucia, a chorus of vocalists, percussion, and  the zesty handclaps calledpalmas.  Lucia and company take you through  the Moorish, Jewish, and Gypsy inventions and dimensions of flamenco, from  thebuleria"Patio Custodio" and the torridtientos"El  Tesorillo" to the  moody, mid-tempobuleria por solea"Antonia."  Guitarists Juan D’ Anyelica and Tomatito join de Lucia on "El Dengue," and  "Que Vengo el Alba," which also features a vocal track from the late singer  Camaron de la Isla. The last song, "Casa Bernardo," with bassist Alain  Perez, jazz trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez, and Latin pop star Alejandro Sanz on  the guitar-liketres, foreshadows the future of this ancient and  inventive art form.--Eugene Holley, Jr.