Jim Stubblefield, Encantado

GUITARIST JIM STUBBLEFIELD TIPS HIS HAT TO LATIN-STYLE MUSIC AND PINK DOLPHINS

What do these things have in common -- Latin-styled nuevo-flamenco guitar, the popular touring band Incendio, and pink dolphins? The answer is musician Jim Stubblefield. Let me explain.

Stubblefield is an incredible Latin-styled acoustic guitar player. He co-founded the recording and touring Latin-styled band Incendio. His new solo album (his sixth) has a pink dolphin on the cover. Why, you might ask? Because in the Amazon and its off-shoot rivers there are pink dolphins. Even more to the point, a pink dolphin is called a boto encantado, so Stubblefield titled his album ENCANTADO. But even more to the point, there are South American legends about these dolphins shape-shifting, taking on human forms and impregnating human women. I kid you not. It must be something in the water.

But now, with that out of the way, let us concentrate on the music which is exceptional. Actually despite the fact that there are Latin and modern flamenco influences throughout the recording, Stubblefield subtly covers a lot of ground. If you listen closely to the mix you will hear him play occasional acoustic steel-string guitars too (Latin-style is always nylon-string). Plus there is some sensational electric guitar (not much, but check out “Odyssey of Fire” and the Latin prog-rock extravaganza “Phrygian Suite, Op. 1” (the longest tune at nearly nine-minutes). But, oh yes, it just keeps getting better and better because his backing musicians include Novi Novog on viola (one of the all-time great session players -- check out credits on the back of albums by The Doobie Brothers and Prince and dozens of others), Randy Tico on bass (probably the finest Latin-style bassist of the last 20 years) and Ramon Yslas on percussion (a first-call top-notch Latin-style drummer). Wow! Let me say it again. Wow!

If you want an album with Latin flavor and passion, but that goes beyond just straight nouveau flamenco, this is the one for you. Pink dolphins and all.