El Terreno

Jacob Gurevitsch makes sure to stress he is not a flamenco musician – in spite of often being presented as one. One does not have to wonder why: even though some sparkles of the Spanish guitar style can be easily spotted in his playing, it is rather obvious that his path keeps flamenco tradition at bay, and he would probably prefer to avoid any misunderstandings regarding the music he pursues. And, surely, El Terreno is hardly to be confused with the fiery and virtuosic pieces of Paco de Lucía or Manitas de Plata. Quite the opposite, what we hear in Gurevitsch’s playing is a soft, almost ethereal approach to the guitar, with a stronger affinity to smooth or lounge jazz.

After having collaborated with singer Concha Buika on his previous album, Gurevitsch now summons his fellow Danish singer Annissette to lend her smoky jazz/flamenco vocals to ‘Santa Teresa’ and Cuban jazz great Arturo Sandoval to embellish ‘For Your Love’’s waltz with a trumpet flair that adds to the tune’s classic Italian soundtrack flavour. Other than that, Gurevitsch takes over with compositions written in the Balearic Islands, though it always sounds over polished, too safe. As if he is creating for the background, careful not to bother anyone. A greater risk would be welcome.