Pavlo: Fantasia

Fantasia (Justin Time), the American debut from guitarist Pavlo, was originally released on September 11, 2001, and was recently rereleased. It would have been a shame if this album had gone unheard, because it’s pure delight from beginning to end. Canadian-born Pavlo, who’s of Greek heritage, has a sound that blends flamenco, Greek and world elements into an ebullient hybrid that’s hard to resist. “Ella Ella” is an effervescent dance tune, in which Pavlo’s guitar is complemented by violin, while “Paradise”‘s melancholy opening transforms into a vibrant, seductively swaying number. The tender, romantic ballad “Love You Forever” was, according to Pavlo’s liner notes, inspired by a children’s book he read his daughter every night, and “Seleni” is infused with Middle Eastern flavors and enhanced by percussion. Pavlo is a star in Canada, and as Fantasia demonstrates, he is more than deserving of that status in America, as well.

Originally Published January 1, 2005