Flamenco Rumba is a traditional flamenco piece. This arrangement is by Bob Hooper.
Flamenco rumba, also called rumba flamenca, rumba gitana, gypsy rumba, Spanish rumba or, simply, rumba, is a style of flamenco music from Spain. It is known as one of the ida y vuelta (return songs), music which diverged in the new world, then returned to Spain in a new form. In Cuba (before returning to Spain in the 1850s), the music was performed with percussion instruments. The dance that it accompanied was improvised with prominent hip and shoulder movements, more overtly sexual than other styles of flamenco dances.
Its style derived from the influence of Afro-Cuban Rumba. After it was brought back from Cuba to Spain in the 19th century it was modified to be played with guitars and hand clapping, some body slaps, castanets and cajon (box drums). Modern performers (guitarists and dance groups) such as Paco de Lucía and Tomatito have incorporated congas and cajon to the percussion section, as well as palmas (hand clapping), but have not prominently featured the claves which were prominent in Cuba.
Rumba flamenca became very popular in Catalonia in the 1950s and ’60s with pop stars like Peret, Carmen Amaya and El Pescailla, generating a sub-style called Catalan rumba. It is also very popular in the Camargue region of France, home of Manitas de Plata, José Reyes & Los Reyes and the Gipsy Kings.
In recent years, rumba flamenca has become increasingly popular in the United States and other parts of the world.
