Río Ancho

Paco de Lucía, 1976, from Almoraima. Solo by Paco de Lucía.

A rumba whose melody later became a live duet vehicle alongside Mediterranean Sundance.

Río Ancho is a rumba with a broad, flowing melody that suits its title, and Paco de Lucía plays it with a relaxed, singing tone. The theme is simple and memorable, and he decorates it with quick runs and rhythmic strums that keep the groove buoyant. Its melody proved so strong that it later became a live duet vehicle, paired with Al Di Meola's Mediterranean Sundance in their shows together. The piece shows how he could make a tune feel both traditional and immediately accessible. Listen for the way the main melody returns after each flurry of picado, sounding fresher each time because of the contrast with the fast passages around it.

Río Ancho by Paco de Lucía is featured in our Flamenco (#4) list. The solo is played by Paco de Lucía and the song was released in 1976.

In our lists

• Beyond the Canon — #25
• The 25 Greatest Flamenco Guitar Recordings — #4
• The Best Paco de Lucía Guitar Solos — #6

Sources