Luzia

1	Rio de la Miel 5:08
2	La Villa Vieja 6:52
3	Calle Municion 5:37
4	Me Regale 5:36
5	Luzia 5:40
6	Manteca Colora 4:58
7	El Chorruelo 5:58
8	Camaron 6:07

Barnes & Noble

For diehards who listened reluctantly to Paco De Lucía's collaborations with fusion greats Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin, Luzia will come as fast flamenco puro relief. Billed as a return to the roots of flamenco (and dedicated to his mother, who died in 1998), Luzia captures the fire of De Lucía -- without question flamenco's greatest living guitar legend -- performing with traditional dancers. The disc's opener, "Rio de la Miel," shows off De Lucía's impeccable right-hand technique, while "Calle Munición" finds him accompanied by foot stomping and hand clapping. "Me Regalé," where De Lucía is joined by the vocal group Duquende, and the title cut offer a more polished pop side that adds variety to the disc's stark appeal. But overall, he's frugal with his jazz playing and only on "Manteca Colorá" do we hear some new-age guitar riffing. Luzia is a solo show, a straight shot of De Lucía's soulful playing, intimately performed.
Kevin Giordano

All Music Guide

Paco De Lucia's Luiza demonstrates the master guitarist's blend of flamenco and jazz. From the rippling "Rio De La Miel" to the sparkling, complex "Calle Municion," the album strikes a beautiful balance between experimentation and tradition. Heather Phares