This 1985 album was originally released on Catero Records and is now available through Ernie’s Bandcamp site. Here, Ernie provides flute, keyboards and percussion and he is joined by Juan Bibiloni, a jazz guitarist from Mallorca, plus bassist Mark von Wageningen while Glenn Cronkhite provides percussion here and there. For the most part it is the core trio, with the bass providing the foundation while Bibiloni shows what can be done with an acoustic guitar in the hands of someone raised on Flamenco, and one can certainly understand why he has been involved with Jon Anderson, Larry Coryell, John Cage, Celia Cruz, Kevin Ayers and many more. But then at the forefront is the wonderfully melodic and dynamic flute of Ernie Mansfield, and during the Flamenco numbers he really shines. This album contains a few different styles though, and when they move into Latin he provides more of a supportive role, even though the flute may well be double tracked.
It is a wonderfully light and incredibly Summery album, certainly brightening up my day even though it is an unseasonal 10 degrees and raining outside (the weather gods have been unkind to us this Summer). There is a vivacious cheekiness which is infectious, and all one can do when playing this is smile as it is fun throughout. It is a real shame that Ernie does not appear to have recorded much more during his career (I do have a Sky Farmer album to review) as he is a wonderful musician with deftness of touch who has certain created some real beauty with his flute. His name may not be well known, but hopefully some of those reading this will seek out his Bandcamp site and discover some great music.
Rating: 8/10