Music: Juan de Lerida: Noche en Blanco

This second album from the French guitarist has a predominant 'new flamenco' theme - representing the musician's Spanish background (his family moved to France from Aragon during the Franco regime). The album guest features David Peña Dorantes on the piano, a descendant of a line of famous Andalusian gypsies, who now specializes in 'gypsy jazz'. The guitarist Tchavolo Schmitt also features once - on the track Tio Milio. De Lerida is also accompanied by the same group of musicians that played with him on his first album, Quimeras.

It is often hard to find the balance between the spontaneity of improvisation and the musical perfection of structure but De Lerida seems to have found a balance here. His Spanish roots are made clear when he lets go and seems to become lost in long guitar solos, such as in Eclipse of the moon. The album shows off more Spanish talents with the haunting vocals reminiscent of passionate flamenco dances that only Spaniards can seem to master - as can be seen in En el aire.

Lerida's press release claims that he is part of a generation of musicians who have not forgotten their roots but who are still adopting the best aspects of modern music. This is represented especially in Puertas de Otoño, with its mix of piano, violin, guitar, and tango and flamenco rhythms. Basically, this album is Spanish guitar playing at its best, with the other instruments and musicians providing a modern twist.