Paco de Lucia - The Montreux Years (2023) CD-Rip

This new live set in BMG's justly acclaimed Montreux series features the Spanish flamenco legend Paco De Lućia's finest live performances from the Montreux Jazz Festivals of 1984, 2006 and 2012, each with different personnel but broadly similar instrumentation, comprising a two or three guitar configuration or two guitars/keyboards, all with with vocals, bass, drums and percussion. Take your pick between audiophile vinyl, ‘MQA quality’ CD or a high-res download. I reviewed this on vinyl, and thanks to Montreux's great sound engineers, this music, taken from the mixing desk, captures the drama and excitement of these fiery flamenco inspired performances with real presence.
If there are moments when the vocal and acoustic guitar combination evokes the Gypsy Kings, then no surprise there since they are both in the same line of work – but the difference is de Lućia's impassioned flights of virtuosity which lift these performances to the point where the audiences (at the Casino Montreux, Casino Barriére and Miles Davis Hall) are both spellbound and exhilarated, just like this audience of one listening to the music at home.