Showing posts with label Flamenco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flamenco. Show all posts

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

PACO DE LUCIA (1947 - ∞)!

The absolute Spanish flamenco guitar master Paco de Lucia dies at 66.

He is seen here performing at Las Palomas bull ring in Algeciras, Spain, in September 2006



A leading proponent of the New Flamenco style, he is one of the first flamenco guitarists who has also successfully crossed over into other genres of music such as classical and jazz. Richard Chapman and Eric Clapton, authors of Guitar: Music, History, Players, describe de Lucía as a "titanic figure in the world of flamenco guitar", and Dennis Koster, author of Guitar Atlas, Flamenco, has referred to de Lucía as "one of history's greatest guitarists".

De Lucía is noted for his innovation and colour in harmony and his remarkable dexterity, technique, strength and fluidity in his right hand, capable of executing extremely fast and fluent picados. A master of contrast, he often juxtaposes picados with rasgueados and other techniques and often adds abstract chords and scale tones to his compositions with jazz influences. These innovations saw him play a key role in the development of traditional Flamenco and the evolution of New Flamenco and Latin jazz fusion from the 1970s.

De Lucía achieved acclaim for his recordings with flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla in the 1970s, recording 10 albums together. Some of his best known recordings include "Río Ancho" (later fused with Al Di Meola's "Mediterranean Sundance"), "Entre dos aguas", "La Barrosa", "Ímpetu", "Cepa Andaluza" and "Gloria al Niño Ricardo". His collaborations with guitarists John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Larry Coryell in the late 1970s saw him gain wider popularity outside his native Spain.

De Lucia formed the Paco de Lucía Sextet in 1981 with his brothers, singer Pepe de Lucía and guitarist Ramón de Algeciras, and collaborated with jazz pianist Chick Corea on their 1990 album, Zyryab. In 1983 he appeared in Carlos Saura's film Carmen, for which he was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Score. In 1992, he performed live at Expo '92 in Seville and a year later on the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.

In 2004, he won the Prince of Asturias Awards in Arts and in 2010, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since 2004 he has greatly reduced his live performances in public, has retired from full touring, and now typically only gives several concerts a year, usually in Spain and Germany and at European festivals during the summer months. In 2005, he was nominated for producer of the year by the Latin Grammy Award for La Tana's Tu, Ven a Mi album.

Have a safe journey, Maestro!

Monday, 4 November 2013

ON THE AIR: FLAMENCO - 'EL SOL, LA SAL, EL SON'!




Flamenco is (first of all an art) a form of Spanish folk music and dance from the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. It includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance) and palmas (handclaps). First mentioned in literature in 1774, the genre grew out of Andalusian and Romani music and dance styles.Flamenco is often associated with the Romani people of Spain (Gitanos) and a number of famous flamenco artists are of this ethnicity. While flamenco originally crystalized among gypsies in the 18th century, some authors believe that modern flamenco mostly emerged out of late nineteenth-century romanticism. 

In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world and is taught in many countries: in Japan there are more academies than there are in Spain. On November 16, 2010 UNESCO declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

'''EL SOL, LA SAL, EL SON' is a flamenco program of Canal Sur. For this first program some great artists will be there: Miguel Poveda, Dorantes, El Lebrijano, Carmen Linares, Arcángel, Diego Carrasco, Pastora Galván, Pansequito, El Cigala and Rocío Molina among others. A sincere bet for the flamenco, one of the biggest cultures of the world. A commitment of support to the candidacy of the autonomous government of Andalusia in order to give the flamenco the recognition it deserves, a part of the World Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO. The flamenco is and should be a part of the Cultlural Heritage because it contributes to art, to culture and expresses the soul feelings of the humanity. It's a firm intention to bring flamenco to everybody, but without resigning about the quality, the purity and the depth.A program presented by Francisco Rivera, offering professional and expert contents. Universal Andalusian and Spanish artists will be present to talk about flamenco and giving support to its cancidacy.The Teatro Quintero is the prefect place for this kind of program.'' - flamencoexport.com

Here are the flamenco masters you'll see in the show (in a random order): Rocio Molina, la Tremedita, Graviela Ortega, Miguel Poveda, Diego Carrasco, familia Paquera de Jerez, Antonio el Pipa, Tia Juana la del Pipa, Moraito Chico, luis de la Tota , Carrasco Family, David Palomar, el Pele, el Lin, el Nani, el Pollo, Maria Toledo, India Martinez, Rancapino, Capullo de Jerez, Farruco, Farruquito, Pitingo, Jose de la Merce, Arcangel. la Lole, Argentina,Pepe Roca, Pantoja, Carmen Ledesma, Pastora Galvan, Juaquin Cortes,el Lebrijano, Alba Molina, Nabajita Platea, el Cigala, Rocio Marquez, la Macanita, Cesar Calvajar, Diego Pantoja, Pansequito, Canelita, Remedios Amaya, Diana Navarro, Sandra Carrrasco, Guillermo Cano, Agujetas, Niña Pastori, la Negra, chirigota los emteaos, Juan Diaz, Carlos Cano, Dolores Pradera, Fernanda de Utrera, Camaron, Paco Toronjo, Rocio Jurado, Enrique Morente, los Maya, Antonio Ortiz, Guaquin Grilo, Junior, Banda las Cigarreras.,Perrate,RocioMarquez,Falete,Capul­lo, la Negra,Lole, Alba Molina, Tortas,Pele,Remedios Amaya,Poveda,C.Linares, Pansequito,Diana Navarro,Sandra Carrasco, Guillermo Cano,Argentina,Niña Pastori,Agujetas,Grabiela Ortega, Paco Gandia, Cesar Cadaval,Diego Pantoja Chirigota los Enteraos, Beni de Cadiz,Chiquito, Carlos Cano, Mª Dolores Pradera,Maria Vidal,Fernanda de Utrera,Camaron,Paco Toronjo,Rocio Jurado,Erique Morente,Farruquito and more

Below you'll find a few of my very personal favourite moments, and at the bottom the full show in 2 parts. Enjoy and have a good night! ¡Olé!









Full Show


Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Saturday, 5 October 2013

SABICAS' FLAMENCO!

Sabicas (Agustín Castellón Campos) was a Flamenco guitarist, of Romani origin, who was born on 16 March 1912 in Pamplona, Spain and died in 14 April 1990 in New York. 

Sabicas began playing guitar at the age of 4 and made his performing debut 2 years later. Leaving Spain in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, he went into exile in South America with bailaora (dancer) Carmen Amaya. Sabicas later settled in New York City in the United States. He did not return to his native Spain until 1967.

Sabicas was instrumental in the introduction of Flamenco to audiences outside of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. He was a standout of his day, not only with technique, but with major contributions, playing Flamenco previously unimaginable and giving new tools and possibilities for the solo instrument. He brought this art to concert halls and major theaters where all classes can enjoy. 

Notable contemporary players such as Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Serranito, Juan Manuel Cañizares, El Viejín, Vicente Amigo, Gerardo Nuñez and many more claim large influence from Sabicas' music.

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

EL CIGALA!

Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar (27 December 1968), known as El Cigala is a famous Spanish Romani Flamenco singer. As he himself has said, the nickname was given to him by three guitar players, Los Losada, for being very thin, not by Camarón de la Isla as commonly believed.

One of his great albums is 2003's "Lágrimas Negras", a cooperation with then 85 year old Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés. The easy fusion of Cuban rhythms and flamenco vocals made this record an international success.

Born into a family of Spanish Gypsy artists and intellectuals in Madrid, El Cigala started singing in flamenco peñas (enthusiasts' clubs) and tablaos, until his excellent meter and ability to mark the rhythm caught the attention of world-class bailaores like Mario Maya, Faíco, Farruco, El Güito, Manuela Carrasco, Cristóbal Reyes, Carmen Cortés, Joaquín Cortés and he began touring as part of their companies. By the late nineties, having collaborated on recordings by Camarón, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo, he was ready to record his own CD. With the success of "Undebel" he launched his career as solo singer. He has now recorded 8 CDs and has won two Grammys and 5 Latin Grammy nominations.

Discography: 1998 – Undebel. 2000 – Entre vareta y Canasta. 2001 – Corren tiempos de alegría. 2002 – Teatro Real (Diego El Cigala Feat. Niño Josele.) 2003 – Blanco y Negro en vivo (Bebo & Cigala). 2003 – Lágrimas negras. 2005 – Picasso en mis ojos. 2008 – Dos lágrimas. 2010 – Cigala & Tango.



Monday, 9 July 2012

CAMARÓN DE LA ISLA

When Flamenco became Legend!
Enjoy!

Camaron de la Isla is the most important flamenco artist of all time. 
By the time of his death in 1992, he had released more than a dozen classic
 flamenco albums. His 1979 release La Leyenda del Tiempo was as influential 
as Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and as controversial as when 
Bob Dylan 'went electric'.