Mediterranea by Johannes Linstead
Reviewed by Anala Rabari
This is the 5th CD by Johannes Linstead who is from Toronto, Ontario
Canada. Among his influences Linstead counts Spanish guitar masters Tarrega and Sor and classical composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. This particular album was released in September 2004 - and earned the accolades of reaching #6 on Billboard's New Age Chart; Winner "Best World Album" NAR Lifestyle Music Awards; #7 on NAR's Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart for Sept.'04.
I love this album. It has a very earthy flare to it and for me it just brings to mind Mediterranean benches with families having dance parties while they wait for the village fishing boats to come in. The songs vary from sensual rumba rhythms to matador bull fights to flamenco to sambas to Greek folk dance type numbers. It's the perfect mix of slow, moderate, and fast paced tracks. A few of the instruments included on this CD are Spanish guitar, bouzouki, palmas, doumbek, djembe, tabla, violin, congas, bongos and timbales. Its really hard to pick a few favorites out of the ten tracks but I'll name Andalucia, Sangre Del Toro, and Ambrosia. He also has free sheet music downloads to a few songs on his website incase you have a musician that you would like to play live for you. If your dance style is Spanish infused, Flamenco influenced, or gypsy than without a doubt this CD is for you.