Nuevo Flamenco ("New Flamenco") is synonymous with contemporary flamenco and is a modern derivative of traditional flamenco (see the cafés cantantes period, and Ramón Montoya (1880–1949)).
It is widely accepted that Nuevo Flamenco started in 1975 with the Lole y Manuel first album Nuevo Día. Although the most important early pioneers of modern flamenco are widely accepted to be the guitarist Paco de Lucía, and singer Camarón de la Isla, other musical genres have also played a key role in influencing nuevo flamenco. The central focal points of this genre are compás (rhythm), baile (dance), and cante (song). Although the guitar is arguably the most common instrument in flamenco, it is said that the person playing the instrument is flamenco, not the instrument itself.
Some of today's leading flamenco guitarists are Paco de Lucia, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Gerardo Nuñez, Juan Martín, Niño Josele. Some of today's leading flamenco singers are Diego El Cigala, Duquende, Enrique Morente, and his daughter Estrella Morente.
There is also, particularly in the United States, a movement of music which is derived in part from flamenco, as well as world, jazz, and Latin music influences, among others. While these influences have as much an impact on this music as flamenco, it is a common misconception among the public to refer to it as "flamenco." New Flamenco guitarists: Alex Fox, Antonio Cobo, Armik, Behzad (Behzad Aghabeigi), Benise (Roni Benise), Brent Gunter, Eric Hansen (guitarist), Govi, Guido Luciani, Jason McGuire (guitarist), Jesse Cook, Johannes Linstead, Jose Luis Encinas, Kevin Laliberte, Lara & Reyes (Sergio Lara and Joe Reyes), Lawson Rollins, Luis Villegas, Luna Blanca, Miguel "Mito" de Soto, Nino Mekouar, Nocy, Nova Menco, Oscar Lopez, Ottmar Liebert, Pavlo (guitarist), Robert Michaels, Santos (Santos Bonacci), Shahin & Sepehr (Shahin Shahida and Sepehr Haddad), Strunz & Farah (Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah), Wayne Wesley Johnson, Willie and Lobo (Willie Royal and Wolfgang "Lobo" Fink) and Young & Rollins (Dan Young and Lawson Rollins) have all gained fame for playing music based loosely on nuevo flamenco (rumba flamenca).