Journal

Sat 15 Aug – Festival international de Hammamet

Coming back to the concerts I've attended this summer, I'll begin my reviews by -what I can call- "2009 summer discovery" .. for me at least, as it seems that Vicente Amigo is not only known worldwide, but also concidered - now days - as one of the best "Guitar flamenca" players & "nuevo flamenco" composers

Till that date, the concept of "nuevo flamenco" was unknown for me.. & the Idea I formally had about "flamenco" is that kind of folk-ethnic festive music I've listened to on recordings & even when I went to spain -some years ago -
the Flamenco presents also some close similitude in rythms & modes with tunisian & maghreb's traditionnal music -since an important part of our ancestors are andalusian moor or morisco immigrants who came around the "Reconquesta"-

What I heard & seen before in flamenco was also based mainly on vocals & dance.. although some classical occidental music works have also been inspired by flamenco rythms & topics.. Vicente Amigo's works - in contrast - emphasis more on the musical creation rather on the "folk show".. the guitar stands so majestic through his rich melodies & high technique.. the percussionnnal speech is so various & nicely introduced.. the vocal contribution is minimalistic, making his compositions easily "digested" even for those whom are not accustomed with the “frenzy” of flamenco's vocalism



The night of the 15th August has been that of exeptionnel conveniences..an exeptionel site, a clement weather, a tasteful attendance, & mostly.. a musical performance of high level

Although open air scenes are not so perfect for careful listening, Hammamet's Open Air Theater have other assets that made me "sensually saturated" that night.. music has became just a part of a beautiful "canvas"
..the scent of eucalyptus & laurel flowers coming from the surrounding bay.. the moon's light reflecting off the sea surface, just behind the scene.. the sea waves whispering when guitar stands in solo..& even the conception of benchs that offer a clear & close panoramic view of artist's scene -like in antique greek theaters-

the concert began by a 20 mn astonishing solo on the guitar flamenca, then came the second guitar, percussions & vocals in a sweet program, alterning romantism & frenzy.. sadness & joy..rythms going crescendo & others going decrescendo.. all with a complete amity that you can see clearly in their crossed glances

..A memorable night for a virtuoso musician !

A list encompassing flamenco and several subgenres. this will be updated occasionally. recommendations welcome!


Paco Peña - Granada En Flor (Zorongo)
live recording



Paco de Lucia - Cueva Del Gato (Rodena)
studio

Live



Paco Peña - Canto de Entrada
Live recording


Los Alhama - Veras



Paco de Lucia - Entre Dos Aguas (Instrumental) (Rumba)
studio

Great live compliation of Entre Dos Aguas (music begins at :51)




Paco Peña - De Levante (Tarantas)
Studio




Paco de Lucia - Almoraima (Bulerias)
Studio

Live




Paco Peña - Clara Fuente (Granadinas)
Live




Paco de Lucia - Percusion Flamenca (Zapateado)
Live




Gerardo Nunez - Calima
Live



Vicente Amigo - Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero
Live

When I lived in Spain a few years ago, I learnt a thing or two. I learned that Spain is NOT Mexico, as a lot of North Americans are wont to believe, assume, expect. I learned that Mexico is the way it is because of Spain -- The good, the bad, the ugly. I love Mexico, and I truly love Spain. One of the people in Spain that influenced me exponentially was a very beautiful person from San Fernando. I fell in love with her and stupidly messed it up... as I'm very good at doing. So anyway, she had great taste in everything, but I'm not so sure about her music, now that I look back. She had me HOOKED on Spanish pop. I don't know much else about music from the Iberian Peninsula, but whenever I hear Spanish pop, I wax sentimentally and am lost in nostalgia. Here are some of the groups (with the help of last.fm) that I still hear when I think of downtown Cadiz, Jerez, and the beaches of Costa de la Luz & Costa del Sol:

80s 90s dance folk mexico musica latina pop rock rock en español sevillana spain

1. Mecano
2. La Oreja de Van Gogh
3. Alejandro Sanz
4. Ana Torroja
5. Miguel Bosé
6. Hombres G
7. Presuntos Implicados
8. Ella Baila Sola
9. Amaral
10. Paulina Rubio
11. Julieta Venegas
12. Nena Daconte
13. Shakira
14. Rosana
15. Azúcar Moreno
16. Massiel
17. Juanes
18. Paloma San Basilio
19. Isabel Pantoja
20. Thalía
21. Mónica Naranjo
22. Luis Miguel
23. Efecto Mariposa
24. David Civera
25. Manu Tenorio

Perchance I wasn't snapping my fingers to latin pop, I was out looking for something more in-country, more folk. After all, Andalusia is the birthplace of flamenco, and one cannot walk through any spanish town any night and not see flamencodancers and/or a spanish guitar, somewhere. So I'd sit down and have a sherry and watch the show. Such great music.

ambient arabesk brazil chile chillout classical flamenco folk france gitano instrumental italy jazz lounge musica latina new age spain spanish guitar world

1. Ottmar Liebert
2. Jesse Cook
3. Armik
4. Paco de Lucía
5. Gipsy Kings
6. Oscar Lopez
7. Andrés Segovia
8. Julian Bream
9. Strunz & Farah
10. Joaquín Rodrigo
11. Tierra Negra
12. Manuel de Falla
13. Johannes Linstead
14. Vicente Amigo
15. Paco Peña
16. Pepe Romero
17. Heitor Villa-Lobos
18. Rodrigo y Gabriela
19. Carlos Campos
20. Alabina
21. Isaac Albéniz
22. Fanfare Ciocărlia
23. Henrik T
24. Lara & Reyes
25. Gino D'Auri

One other thing... There is another part of Iberia, a place to the west called Albufeira in a great country called Portugal. Such great people, great food, and great music. All those years of world influence has come back there in spades. Bossa Novas and Sambas from Brazil. But one of the best experiences is listening to Fado.

bossa cape verde chillout brazil downtempo fado folk jazz musica latina portugal rock samba world

1. Mariza
2. Amália Rodrigues
3. Maria Rita
4. Cesária Évora
5. Dulce Pontes
6. Cristina Branco
7. Madredeus
8. Mísia
9. Seu Jorge
10. Bebel Gilberto
11. Cibelle
12. Farofa Carioca
13. Marisa Monte
14. Astrud Gilberto
15. Lura
16. Arto Lindsay
17. Chico Buarque
18. Sabrina Malheiros
19. Mayra Andrade
20. Mafalda Arnauth
21. Jorge Ben Jor
22. João Gilberto
23. CéU
24. Katia Guerreiro
25. Ana Carolina

Vandaag gezocht op flamenco-muziek op de Last FM-radio. Via Paco de Lucía uitgekomen bij schitterende 'similar artists': Vicente Amigo, Tomatito en de flamenco-chill sound van Chambao met hun album 'Pokito a poko'. Super!!!! Tomatito Pokito a Poko Pokito a Poko Vicente AmigoPa La Pimpi

...Lo único que sabía de ella éra que había colaborado con grandes de la música flamenca como Vicente Amigo o del jazz como Bebo Valdés. ¡El concierto fue sublime! Todas las canciones tenían un ritmo muy pegadizo, fusionando flamenco con raíces étnicas, e invitando a que todos lo siguieramos con palmas y movimientos de hombro.

Por supuesto eso no sería nada si no estuviera la voz sugerente y melódica de La Negra, que convirtió la noche en una velada mágica.

Post completo

Every summer Warsaw blooms with festivals, giving various opportunities to see good, live music for free. But somehow this year I missed most of them! The line-up of Warsaw Summer Jazz Days wasn't so impressive as last time and partly collided with my sailing trip, so regretably I didn't catch any of the shows. I was back just to see the final of Jazz na Starówce festival with Lars Danielsson trio, but they didn't impress me much. So, at the end of August I felt deeply disappointed with my 'concert life' so far this year and was really looking forward to hearing some exciting music live.

Fortunately September came to the rescue and delivered more than enough opportunities, mainly in the field of ethnic or world music. It all started for me with the Golem concert at Singer's Warsaw festival. I didn't know any of their music, but the band was really fun to watch. Lively musicians (especially male vocalist with his drunken-like moves and crazy mimicry) played the klezmer tunes with lots of energy and top-knotch skill (tasty violin-trombone interplay). If you like the Radical Jewish Culture series on the Tzadik label you should check them out. All the more that their last album 'Fresh Off Boat' is streamable at last.fm!!

The same day was a starting point for Culture Crossover festival, but I didn't get there until the fourth day, just in time to see Kapela ze wsi Warszawa (or Warsaw Village Band). Their live shows are amazing: the songs are played in kind of extended versions and with much more power than on the records. This one wasn't an exception, the music had a hypnotic, almost ritual-like feel to it and I had a great time. Another artist that night was Dazkarieh from Lisbona/Portugal, playing eclectic mix of world music with almost rock aproach to some of the ethnic instruments. At first I thought that they're nice, but a bit blank compared to Kapela, but the ending of their show was spectacular. Long improvisations by each of musicians and a vocalist, with all the people standing and claping in enchantment. Overall it was good, but if they had put more emphasis on deconstructing the tradition all over the concert it would have been great.

A couple of days later I came back to see Amazones - a group of female drummers (ok, there was one guy among them) from Guinea. Very energetic show, with lots of poly-rhythmic percussion, wild dances and African singing. But after some time the songs sounded very much alike and the band started to put more emphasis on the party, encouraging people to clap their hands (in my opinion it really doesn't suit to such rhythmically complex music) and even dancing together on the stage in the grand-finale. Certainly not the best show I've seen, but nevertheless I had a good time.

The day before the last I went to see Vicente Amigo and the concert left me speechless from enchantment. I mean... wow... even now I don't really know what to say, except that it was probably the best concert I've seen this year. His take on flamenco slightly leans towards world-fusion in the vein of Paco de Lucia, but he plays with so much passion, keeping the traditional spirit alive and well. His band was also perfect with great vocalist, dancer and the rest of musicians... I was just sitting there, closing my eyes and absorbing the music with my mind and body, under such impression, that don't be surprised if my charts get flamenco-all-over in the coming weeks.

And the final of the festival saw Angelite & Moscow Art Trio with Huun-Huur-Tu combining forces on one stage. Good show but I was still flamenco obsessed so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could. But to be honest, comparisons are inappropriate here, because this concert was in the first place a meeting of different artists, trying to find a common musical language. They were playing in various line-ups, mainly creating complex and contemplative vocal/sound layers. Sometimes they did find a common ground and it was great, but sometimes I got the feeling that there was no synergy between them. So my impressions were mixed at the final day, but overall the festival was great and I really look forward to the next edition!!