Sabicas interview

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Sabicas interview

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NormanKliman

Posts: 1143
Joined: Sep. 1 2007

Sabicas interview

Interview with Sabicas conducted by forum member Paul Magnussen.

It's nice to see a reference to the close friendship of Sabicas and Niño Ricardo. Evil tongues, one belonging to a well-known pro guitarist, have tried to spread a rumor to the contrary. According to an eye-witness account from a friend on mine, when the two ran into each other on the streets of Madrid, their first reaction was a long and tearful embrace.

However, contrary to what he says in the interview, Sabicas was not the first to play solo flamenco guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2011 7:39:10

Ricardo

Posts: 14828
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Sabicas interview (in reply to NormanKliman)

Cool.

Where the Hell have you been Norman?????

I felt his comment about solo playing was refering to himself as the first to be making a name doing it. Even Ramon was an accompanist mainly and his solo records were like a "special project". Sabicas was not making a name for himself accompanying the greatest cantaores I feel, early on.

About N. Ricardo....he says they were like hermanos. I don't know it could be a lie. I have know in my short career, individuals that were practically enemies have "tearful embraces". I think it is funny because even the enemies in flamenco secretly love and respect each other....just have problems admitting it.

And finally the solera comment seems to refer to maturity in artistry...but what I think he meant as an answer to the question about the younger guys is more like the "solera" of a guitar builder. The idea of form that was created standardized and as good as the "new" guys are, they are not really creators but rather expanding on the established forms of the old maestros.

Ricardo

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2011 8:12:20

NormanKliman

Posts: 1143
Joined: Sep. 1 2007

RE: Sabicas interview (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Where the Hell have you been Norman?????

Working on transcriptions and trying to avoid useless distraction (and having fun with the useful kind :-). I check the forum only occasionally these days. Will get back to you soon on the subject of our last correspondence.

quote:

I felt his comment about solo playing was refering to himself as the first to be making a name doing it. Even Ramon was an accompanist mainly and his solo records were like a "special project". Sabicas was not making a name for himself accompanying the greatest cantaores I feel, early on.

Before leaving Spain, he recorded accompaniment with a number of good singers, some big names at the time: Angelillo, Niño de La Calzá, Carbonerillo, Chato de Las Ventas, Chato de Jerez, La Jerezana, Cojo Madrid, Nieto de Orellana, Pena hijo, Niña de La Puebla, Niño de Utrera, Valderrama, Juan Valencia and others. During this period (as far as I can tell), he recorded a few 78 rpm disks of solo guitar, just as Ramón Montoya, Borrull hijo, Manolo and Pepe de Badajoz, Niño Ricardo and others did. In any case, he states flat out that he was the first. Paco El Barbero gave a solo concert of flamenco and classical in 1885, and Javier Molina was known to do the same. If I remember correctly, Montoya caused a big sensation playing solo in France, and it seems reasonable to assume that he did the same in his travels to other countries.

We can guess as to what Sabicas might have meant to say, but his statement doesn't stand. I also have to wonder about the guitar-duo claim. Ricardo recorded with another guitarist (some say it's Melchor), but I'm not sure about the years. Javier Molina also claimed in his biography that he performed with a friend whose last name was Crévola, and they called the duo Los Crevolina (Crévola + Molina) or something like that.

quote:

About N. Ricardo....he says they were like hermanos. I don't know it could be a lie.

I doubt it. The eye-witness account was told to me by a guy who was a relative of Sabicas and a close friend of Niño Ricardo. An evil tongue is a more likely suspect, IMO, especially if we're considering characteristic behavior of artists.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2011 9:06:38

KMMI77

Posts: 1821
Joined: Jul. 26 2009
From: The land down under

RE: Sabicas interview (in reply to NormanKliman)

quote:

quote:

About N. Ricardo....he says they were like hermanos. I don't know it could be a lie.

I doubt it. The eye-witness account was told to me by a guy who was a relative of Sabicas and a close friend of Niño Ricardo. An evil tongue is a more likely suspect, IMO, especially if we're considering characteristic behavior of artists.

This stuff reminds me of womens gossip magazines. Lol, To be honest, I don't find anything interesting regarding whether Sabicas and N, Ricardo are mates or not. I sometimes isten to them play guitar and try to pick up the things i like and can utilize. That's about it really.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2011 10:27:35

Ricardo

Posts: 14828
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Sabicas interview (in reply to NormanKliman)

quote:

I also have to wonder about the guitar-duo claim.

Ramon recorded duets way before that...a soleares with Amalio Cuenca at least. So he lied about being the first flamenco guitar solo, and first flamenco duet, but his brotherly friendship with N. Ricardo must the true!!!

Just teasing man. We should make a "Flamenco OMG" magazine.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2011 10:41:07