Guitar Maestro

Known as much for his books on guitar playing as his virtuosity, Spanish maestro Juan Martín possesses quite a lineage. He studied flamenco under Niño Ricardo and Paco de Lucía, worked the club circuit, played for Picasso's 90th birthday celebrations and performed with Rory Gallagher and Miles Davis, recorded with Herbie Hancock and, ahem, had a UK top ten hit with ‘Love Theme from The Thorn Birds’; an hombre has got to eat.

Recorded between 1974 and 2015, this box of fine music showcases a life dedicated to the bulerías, soleá, sevillana and other palos you could mention – and some you might not, such as the rarely used (outside dancing) zapateado and the 2/4 garrotín. Crisp, plain recordings mean the early material is for the purist, showing Martín forge his own style away from that of his early mentors.

The third CD is perhaps the odd one out, featuring crossover, classical-tinged work with the Royal Philharmonic and non-flamenco collaborations with keyboard player Todd Cochran and saxophonist Mark Isham. In all, 18 albums are dipped into over the four CDs. It's easy to be impressed by new takes and novel fusions, but this collection is solid evidence of a long career defined by serious commitment to an instrument, gimmick-free and quite glorious in its way.