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Paco de Lucia concert last night
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Rain
Posts: 475
Joined: Jul. 7 2005
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Jim Opfer)
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I was at the Paco de lucia concert last night at Carnegie hall. I was 7 rows from the stage, and I'm sorry to say that I thought that this was the worst Paco concert I ever attended. The sound was absolutely HORRIBLE, his guitar sounded thin and metalic. Blame it on the sound guy, i guess, maybe even shoot him. Paco started with a rodena and it was far from flawless, first 2 minutes of it it looked and sounded like he was trying to get into Aire of the piece. He sounded sloppy, and hit some dead notes on some scale runs. But the sound was killing me, it was soooooo bad. His scale runs did improve by the second half. Zyrab was a flawless but lack lustered performance. Everyone got a chance to shine, none more than the Harmonica player, who just went off and sounded amazing. Jose's solo was ok, pacos the same, the bass player just played fast. This was the piece which brought the most excitement to the audience. Encore was entres dos aguas, it had many new falsettas, and took alot of turns from the recorded version. Alot of fun to hear. I would say that the huge majority of the people who attended the concert loved it. Probably did not notice the sound was just BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To that I say Ignorance is bliss. I'm sorry guys but I was just not inspired by this nights performance. I can't believe that I'm even saying that or writing a negative thing about Paco.
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Date Feb. 11 2007 14:21:35
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Ricardo
Posts: 14854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ron.M)
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quote:
This man is touring the world three times over with the same old tired stuff. It is a bit of a catch 22. If he played the music from Fantasia flamenca for his entire career, many would say the same. When he came up with his newest music, people in the audience expecting the older stuff are like "what was that, is that flamenco?". I remember when he was on tour in 97 before Luizia, and I did not recognize most of the music. It was all fresh and new. I was a bit disappointed, since I wanted to see the fingering for the old la barrosa and stuff, but it was all new material. Other people in the audience I talked to were like "that was the same concert I saw him do 10 years ago". The problem is the extra instruments and things are for the people in the audience that can't really focus on "faletas" or the music of "faletas". And believe me, that is the VAST majority. Even his worst night of playing, people will stay awake and excited until the very end (unless they are flamenco purists of course, again the minority). Of course for the folks who never saw paco before live, despite youtube and such, THIS concert what ever it was, will be memorable. Many say "that was the best concert I have ever seen!" and start looking for a flamenco teacher the next day. OK, my view on the concert in DC. I have seen Paco 5 times. It was not his best night. He was off to a bad start as they messed up his monitor sound, forgot his footstool etc, he missed a note here or there. Once you get on that track as a performer, it is hard to get out of that funk. I recognized ONE new falseta in his bulerias solo piece, although part of it was aranged from "Volar", but to the por medio key. All the rest of the show was as I would expect it to be, but keep in mind he "improvises" a lot, there are not a lot of set in stone arrangements. It is just that I am familiar where the source material is drawn from and can predict where he will take it. I am not "bored" by that actually. He tosses in older falsetas into the group number bulerias and tangos, but nothing "new" per say, but it was a nice surprise considering the concert footage I have seen of recent shows. So over all, I am glad I went, but not his best. The others in the group were nothing special for me. Although Chonchi sang one traditional bulerias letra that "did it" for me, very nice. Montse is going deaf I think, poor thing. N. Josele has gotten his picado's into gear for the ZYRAB trade offs, very impressive, though his soloing is not in league with Canizares or Banderas at this stage. It is obvious that he is working hard on it, so good on him. What I saw here in 2004, was maybe the BEST guitar concert I have ever seen. Paco had no second guitarist, and really carried the whole night on his shoulders. I had binoculars and watch EVERY note (I am nerd I know), and he made almost ZERO mistakes, and further more had a lot of fire in his playing. He played Solo Quiero Caminar note for note I remember. The backing band was very secondary that night, so he must of felt a need to keep the show moving. I have a DVD of him in Germany from only a few months after that night, he had a bigger group, and alot of you have seen that or parts of that show (with montse Duquende josele, etc). Nothing close to what I saw, it was like a different guy playing, very sloppy, silly mistakes and such. He played Zyrab on the wrong fret in the begginning!! The show I saw 2 nights ago was comparable to that concert video. So I don't think is fair to write off Paco as burnt out and tired old guy cashing in just yet. Since it was not long ago and similar material music I saw that blew me away, I think he still has potential to be a butt kicking guitar monster. I agree that he has learned to rely on his group for a lot of the tour, but as I said, better that for the big audiences (totally sold out here), then for people to sit through only a guitar concert with Paco having an off night. At least the cute girls sing nice and the harmonica plays good. Ricardo
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Date Feb. 11 2007 15:32:42
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Ron.M
Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ricardo)
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Ricardo, You are too decent a guy! Since you are a working musician, you give a lot of understanding to the person on stage and the problems they may be having. Actually, Gerardo Nuñez actually didn't have any problems with sound or chairs etc when he appeared in a little unimportant Scottish city called Dundee. Why? Because he arrived a few hours early and checked everything himself and sat for about a half hour getting the sound system just right. (Jim Opfer and I watched him) So Paco arrives in Washington DC, the Capital of the USA to do a major concert..and his monitor isn't right...and his footstool wasn't there..or his chair was the wrong height? Gimme a break man... Next thing...is the guy in the mood or not? I'm not saying Paco is "burned out" because he "can't" do it anymore, but is burned out because he "can't be bothered" doing it anymore. The appearance fee to him is the same regardless and his reputation precedes him anyway. Look...I've seen a lot of musicians work under pressure, but when I take 2 days off work because I have to travel 300 miles, overnight at a hotel and pay rock star prices for a ticket, then I expect a performer to at least do his best and not look totally bored and leave it up to a non-inspired group of hired friends to carry the evening. That's unprofessional IMO. Thing is, Paco's had it too easy. He's been the subject of adulation since he was a kid. Other artists have to work. Which brings me on to my second, point of money. I believe, (and this is only conjecture here) that Paco had a rude awakening in seeing all these Rock stars fall all over him and tell him how wonderful he was, then climb into their chaffeur-driven limos, back to their Rock-star mansions in the country. I think that altered Paco's vision of the music scene. He was pretty well-off, but his fellow admiring musicians were filthy-rich. "Paco de Lucia" is a valuable designer label IMO. Third point.. The upload that was posted from the Washington concert, showed Paco playing "Entre Dos Aguas" to a whooping audience. Frankly, with the Bass, Cajon and Harmonica sounded to me like an average 70's "Progressive- Rock", Electro/Acoustic band. Didn't make me think anything at all about Flamenco! I know you are a very well-listened and broad minded guy about music in general, so I'm sure you would have got the Flamenco connection. But honestly Ricardo, if I'm in that kind of listening mood, I'd much rather listen to a good Rock band myself... Without going into the whole Trad/Modern argument..folk are always telling me that "Flamenco has got to evolve"... So that Banjos, Harmonicas, Cellos and Harpsichords are Flamenco so long as the adhere to some kind of identifiable Flamenco compás. IMO, I really don't think so. In my mind there is Flamenco and Nuevo Flamenco. Nuevo Flamenco is not actually a genre IMO, but anything the individual artist wants it to be. So there are all kinds of Nuevo Flamenco. Whereas Flamenco, still seems to be healthily going on and on in the peñas of Andalucia, sounding much as it did when I first started listening 35 years ago, albeit with many more interesting chords and rhythmic interpretations. No banjo or flute etc to be heard anywhere! You mention that a lot of the audience was comprised of folk who knew little or nothing about Flamenco, but that some of the guitarists amongs them would be looking for a Flamenco guitar teacher this week. I would wager that most of them would be keen on learning how to "shred" on a nylon string acoustic guitar and once you make it clear to them that there's a little bit more to it than that, they'll quickly drop out again! In saying all that, Paco is still my favourite guitarist of all time. His precision and speed of technique and clarity of composition when he was in his 20's is unrivalled IMO. Nobody like him. But would I go to another of his concerts, now? ...Nah! cheers Ron
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A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
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Date Feb. 11 2007 21:37:04
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Guest
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ron.M)
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anyway guys nobody can deny that he isthe king...... i wish i was there even just looking to him inspires me ......... + i think if any human prof was sick or something he s nt going to be in the mood ...dont know ifhe was or nt ..but i still say he is the hero........
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Date Feb. 11 2007 21:51:28
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Ricardo
Posts: 14854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ron.M)
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Ron, I honestly believe, if Paco was having a good night the time you saw him, your thoughts would be different. I mean, he does several guitar solos, it is not a total "fusion" concert. It is more about expression than anything. True, it is not fair that he is not "in the mood" every night, but even Gerardo will have an off night believe it or not. Perhaps if we follow Paco around on tour we can really see and judge if the guy is generally having more bad nights than good or not. Remember I posted "la barrosa" live, and you said there was nothing like that that you saw in your neck of the woods. Well, that is bs because he does many of those same falsetas. It is just that when he is really inspired or on top of his game, it comes off differently, then when he is having on off night. It is a shame that if you are an artist and you DO have a bad night, some folks that were expecting more, will never forget, and as you are pointing out, will not even give a second chance. Well, for me, I forgive and that is the nature of art. I really hope to catch certain artists inspired. I saw Vicente 3 times. First time, not so good. Second time worse. 3rd time had newer music, and I thought "why am I subjecting myself once more", but you know what, it was really surprisingly good. I was inspired. But you have to be willing to stay open to that. I think if the 3rd time was bad, I might not try to see him again. Ron, how many times have you seen Paco live? Ricardo
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Date Feb. 11 2007 23:01:43
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Mark2
Posts: 1877
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ron.M)
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Ron, I understand your disapointment after having sacrificed so much to see a concert, but to balance things out consider that Paco has been doing it for what, 45 years? And I also saw him in 2004 and every guitarist in town was there. I talked to few at intermission and their minds were blown. It was a buleria fest with crazy falsetas flying out of his guitar. I'm not a professional, but for me every day is a different deal with regard to what my fingers are capable of. My first teacher, who was a pro, was the same. He had different falsetas for different days. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are days that Paco can't play all his hardest stuff. In any case, to say he may not be the most innovative, the most exciting, the very best, at 60 years of age and 50 years into the greatest career a flamenco ever had isn't really shocking. It might be true that he can't accomplish anything he hasn't already accomplished. Hopefully he's having fun. He's certainly earned it. I didn't go this year, but I'll cetainly hope to see him play again.
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Date Feb. 12 2007 2:49:21
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Ron.M
Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ricardo)
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quote:
Ron, how many times have you seen Paco live? Hi Ricardo, That's the only practical opportunity I've had I'm afraid. In the past, these big-acts have mainly been in London only. Actually, the older I get, the less inclined I am to face the hassles associated with big-venue concerts, like the travel, pot-luck with the seating, pot luck with the sound, the couple next to you who can't keep quiet for 10 seconds, everyone pouring out onto the street at the end all looking for taxis, buses, food or pubs at the same time... In the old days, that would really be your only chance to see your favourite artists, but with more and more DVDs becoming available, you can now see some great stuff in the comfort of your own home, with great sound, bags of close-ups and ability to pause, rewind or skip bits... I know you don't get the same "buzz" of a live venue, but it's certainly got it's compensations. cheers Ron
_____________________________
A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
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Date Feb. 12 2007 13:33:19
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Ricardo
Posts: 14854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
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RE: Paco de Lucia concert last night (in reply to Ron.M)
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OK, rather than going on this old hat bashing Paco for his "band", why not everyone post a concert program that THEY would like to see Paco perform? Including personel (ONLY paco?, second guitar only?, singers?, percussion, digeree doo?) and track list. I will start, OK? Paco solo: Nino curro Impetu Guajiras de Lucia Plaza Alta Bulerias por medio with certain falsetas from "El Tempul", "Punta del Faro", right up to current material. Yeah that would be like a 15 minute piece! With Palmas: La Barrosa Fandangos de Huelva, mixing "Aires Choqueros" with newer material. Soniquete (zyrab version complete), perhaps some newer falsetas from "Cositas" tossed in here. Guitar duet (I like Banderas better than Canizares, but does not really matter), choose 1 or 2 from: Columbianas Dengue Tanguillo With cante: Solo of choice by paco's "cameronero" of choice. Paco accompanies, only himself and singer. I like Granaina, Solea, whatever the singer wants. Tangos (here the with palmas, maybe second guitar, but all improvised with paco sticking in various falsetas between letras. Not too different than what he does already, but less "arranged".) Bulerias fiesta, improvised letras and falsetas, but very traditional style. OK that is. Then an encore of course he has to play a medly of his famous rumbas, but needs to include "Chanela" for a change. Ricardo
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Date Feb. 16 2007 16:16:03
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