To know only the popular Vals Criollo among Antonio Lauro’s Venezuelan Waltzes for guitar is like knowing just one Chopin Mazurka, Scarlatti Sonata, Haydn Symphony, or Joplin Rag. Buy this disc and you’ll encounter a treasure trove of exquisitely wrought miniatures. They are gorgeously deployed for the instrument, laced with ear-tickling harmonic invention, and offer further rewards with each hearing. Lauro’s virtuosic demands pose no problem at all for Adam Holzman’s immaculate technique. More importantly, he taps into the heart and soul of Lauro’s idiom, playing with effortless élan, flowing lyricism, and infectious musicality. On top of that, the disc is excellently recorded. A lovely, lovely release. Go get it.
