Cerro Negro by Amos Lora

Text by Silvia Rojo, in Ciudad Rodrigo, 2012

It is difficult not to fall into clichés when talking about Amós Lora. 'Flamenco prodigy' or 'Paco de Lucía's dolphin' are just some of the expressions that have been used to refer to this guitarist who, at the age of 12, has just released his first album, 'Cerro negro'. Perhaps, the time has come to leave aside the talented child to talk about the musician who possesses sensitivity and faculties.

Amós himself, who started playing when he was four years old, admits that "before it was too early to release an album" and he is very excited because "I like to go to stores, see my album and for people to be able to listen to my music." . He is convinced that it will not be the last but "an album from when he was younger." 'Cerro negro' went on sale on April 30 and Amós will present it on May 11 and 12 in Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo, two of the cities to which he is linked both personally and professionally and where he will also be accompanied by by the sextet of musicians, by the figure of Manuel Fernández Montoya, 'El Carpeta', the youngest of the 'Farrucos'. This first work, a flamenco album with a jazz flavor, includes nine songs, three of which are by the guitarist.

Regarding the creation process, he explains that "some days when I don't feel like doing technique or I have already done it, an idea occurs to me and I go on and on" although he qualifies with his natural friendliness: "it doesn't happen every day." Not in vain, he combines his academic life with the guitar, which means many hours of practice and traveling to Madrid two days a week to continue training as a musician. "You never finish perfecting," says Lora, to ensure that "my life is the guitar." His evolution has been fantastic since he started playing with the help of his father, Manuel, and at this point he admits to feeling comfortable with the most diverse styles: bulerías, alegrías or rondeñas. Amós has played in Rome, in Havana, in recent months continuously in Barcelona and one of the most important dates this year will be at the Suma Flamenca festival that is held in June in Madrid. In 'Cerro negro', the guitarist has the special collaboration of the pianist Diego Amador, with the singers Antonio Villar, Cristo Heredia and Rafita Jiménez or with the palmas of David de Jacoba. In the CD's booklet you can read: "Amos, if you keep playing like this you're going to send us all to the bricklayers." One more sentence if it weren't for the fact that it is signed by Paco de Lucía.
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