A Tiempo

Hailing from Triana, Seville's one time Gypsy quartei and home of classic flamenco, Rosario Guerrero Hernández, aka ‘La Tremendita’, has both position and pedigree on her side, as daughter of famous cantaor José ‘El Tremendo’ Aged 26, she has a host of individual flamenco awards under her belt and has toured as singer with leading shows by cutting-edge female choreographers Belén Maya and Rocío Molina.

Here she shows just what she can do with her exquisite voice right from the start – the lively opener is a rumba called ‘Mi Alma Vuela En Silencio’, with Salvador Gutiérrez on guitar and flashes of trumpet from Raynald Colom. Rosario has incredible tonal clarity and that high ‘bi-gendered’ sound beloved of flamenco, with a trace of huskiness that gives it a visceral quality. Whether offering light filigree decoration – as in her stunning arrangement of Gardél's tango ‘Mi Noche Triste’ as a flamenco-ised vidalita (lullaby) with Antonio Rey on guitar – or with José Reinoso on piano for ‘Principito’, the effect is exceptional. The silvery, sinewy qualities of her voice come to the fore in ‘Aires de Triana’, as does her ability to sing delicately without losing tone or force in the wonderful linked granaínas ‘Cuarto del Siglo I & II’.

Spanish albums often favour florid liner notes that offer the minimum information which is sadly the case here. Sharpen them up with vivid bio and lyrics and hey presto open this music and this exceptional singer out to a wider audience.