In the 22^nd year of the prestigious Latin Grammys, the following artists have been nominated for Best Flamenco Music Album: Rafael Riqueni, Pepe de Lucia, Paco Candela, María Toledo and Israel Fernández and Diego del Morao…

The Latin Grammys are returning in November for the 22nd Autumn. The event will take place on 18^th November 2021 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, United States. Best Flamenco Music Album is the 34^th award category, within the ninth division (Traditional Music).

The category is set aside for vocal or instrumental albums whose total running time is made up of 51% or more new flamenco music material. This year the nominees are: Rafael Riqueni for Herencia; Pepe de Lucia for Un Nuevo Universo; Paco Candela por Alma de Pura Raza; María Toledo for El Rey and Israel Fernández and Diego del Morao for Amor.

Herencia, Rafael Riqueni

After his successful record Parque de María Luisa, the Sevilian composer and guitarist Rafael Riqueni has surprised us once again with a highly artistic composition full of nuances. With Herencia (Universal Music, 2021), the singer from Calle Fabié makes a move towards the more traditional flamenco concert guitar. Our colleague José María Castaño interviewed him for the Caminos series of the Expoflamenco podcast.

Un Nuevo Universo, Pepe de Lucía

Pepe de Lucía brings his new album Un Nuevo Universo to the Latin Grammys accompanied by the music video of his single Porque la vida me da. The singer and composer from Cadiz wanted to transmit his DNA through his work. And he makes us all heirs to a public fortune: his wisdom, his boldness and instinct, and his wild, unbridled attitude. Throughout decades, Pepe de Lucía has emerged as one of the fundamental cantaores and composers in the creative sphere, and likewise in el cante, where tradition rules.

Alma de Pura Raza, Paco Candela

After 11 studio albums, the Sevilian Paco Candela (Mairena del Alarafe, 1971) is embarking on a new career with his own record label, Candelarte Records, to present Alma de pura raza at the Latin Grammys, a record which leaves nobody indifferent with its sevillanas, tangos, fandangos and flamenco rhythms.

Amor, Israel Fernández and Diego del Morao

In Amor Israel Fernández doesn’t recreate any particular work. He draws upon different sources of inspiration, navigating what best defines his deepest flamenco. He also weaves themes with his own lyrics, without forgetting a wide knowledge of the repertoire. As if that wasn’t impressive enough on its own, to top it off there’s Diego del Morao with his inseparable guitar. The fusion of two styles on the guitar chords. The legacy of el toque and a contemporary flavour.

El Rey, María Toledo

The final nominee is the cantaora and pianist María Toledo, who has been nominated on four previous occasions for these awards. The artist has always considered herself a cantaora, which she told us in an Expoflamenco interview, despite taking to the flamenco stage alongside her piano sometimes. In El Rey, the musician pays homage to the well-known Mexican composer José Alfredo Jiménez, mixing Mexican music and culture with the jondo art.

These five artists will fight to take over the title from Antonio Rey, the guitarist who took home the coveted award in 2020 for his record Flamenco sin fronteras. The artist from Jerez competed against the other 2020 nominees: Ezequiel Benítez, Antonio Campos, Naike Ponce and Antonio Reyes.

Translation: Lauren Bleakley