A question for Grant.

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Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

A question for Grant.

Grant,
On various forums there has always been speculation over the years as to Juan Martin's nationality.
Some say he's English, some say he's Spanish and others say he has Dual Nationality (Spanish/English parents) and was brought up in England then moved to Spain to study guitar.
Can you clear this up?
I heard him on the World Service a few weeks ago and I must admit I have always found his Spanish accent when speaking English a bit...well...strange , like...
"When dew play Flamenco eet muss always come from the heart"
Yet he'll pronounce words like "Spain" perfectly, yet lots of Spanish folk I've heard have difficulty with words beginning with "S" and have to put an "E" in front of it...like "Espain", or "Esport"

Just interested!

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 25 2004 14:26:45

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

Ron,

I met John a few years back in Sauchiehall Street and he seemed delighted to meet a fellow Scotsman, he had a broad Glasgow accent and was desperate to nip out for a few pints and a half!

Born in 51' he grew up in Maryhill and got interested in Flamenco when he saw Manitas de Plata at the Playhouse. Since then, no going back. Learned Spanish at Stow College and took lessons from Ron Moore (1.0 o'clock gang on STV, Remember?)

Hair style and grin come from a fancy dress party outfit he first wore after graduating from Paisley Technical College (degree in plumbing) (Masters).

Famous for 'that picture' of himself sitting on the couch playing guitar with Paco and Ramon (Juan's bit cut out in the Paco book).

Great guy and a good laugh, we had a few beers and he absolutely refused to pay all night, then he took down the guitar from behing the bar and sang a few songs. Great stuff....Mmmm! as I'm writing this I've got myself wondering, Mmmm....yes! I'm sure he said his name was John?

Jim.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 25 2004 21:22:29

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Jim Opfer)

Ah! Stow College!
Fond memories of the Maths lecturers who could write on a blackboard at least five times faster than we could copy it down onto paper!
I saw Larry Marshall coming out of the STV studios a couple of times as I walked down to Renfield Street to catch the bus home.
Ron Moore was a good Jazz player and respected by a lot of the amateur Rock guitarists I knew.
By the way are you sure it wasn't John Martyn you met?
John likes a "wee refreshment".

I take it you're not "Big Juan"'s greatest fan then?

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 10:24:30

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M
others say he has Dual Nationality (Spanish/English parents) and was brought up in England then moved to Spain to study guitar.

Thats the correct one. There are people in the Brighton area that remember him as 'little Johnny Martin'

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 11:37:25

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

I take it you're not "Big Juan"'s greatest fan then?

Big Juan who?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 15:20:26

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

Someone call the British tabloids, infamous even here in the States!

And next we have to do an expose on Graf-Martinez!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 15:20:50

musicalgrant

Posts: 188
Joined: Oct. 21 2004

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

Well is he spanish or english Ron?

I can't really answer that, though he does speak Spanish with the locals like a native, and they seem to respect him. Unlike us Brits LOL.

I never asked him that question myself, though he did say he learnt off Nino Ricardo. And he sure does know all the traditional flamenco stuff, so I'd say he does know the roots of flamenco/guitar.

Hope this helps Cheers

I was wondering do I know you Jim? You sound familiar!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 17:42:08

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to musicalgrant)

quote:

I can't really answer that... never asked him that question myself, though he did say he learnt off Nino Ricardo....Hope this helps..

I'm still just as puzzled as ever Grant!
I thought maybe you might be able to clear this up, after knowing him for so long.

When I first heard of him I thought (for some reason) that he was from Madrid, (maybe from the Amor de Dios dance school connection).

Then I started reading some stuff on the Net saying that he was an English Flamenco enthusiast who had gone to Spain like Ian Davies and Philip John Lee to study further.

Jeez! Niño Ricardo died in 1974 at the age of 70, so Juan must be a bit older than what I thought he was!

Surely Jon must be joking when he says he was born and brought up around Brighton.

I haven't been to Brighton, but I would assume the locals don't have a bright "Conde Orange" complexion coupled with faltering Engish with a heavy Spanish accent....

As I said, I'm still completely puzzled!

He seems to be a man with no past or biography....

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 21:38:24

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to musicalgrant)

quote:

I was wondering do I know you Jim? You sound familiar!

I don't know Grant, I live in Glasgow but have been up and down the country quite a lot for flamenco events? I asked you a while back if you knew Mike Holmes and you said you did, but apart from that connection, I can't remember meeting you.

Cheers
Jim.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 23:13:22

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

"Conde Orange" complexion

Ron, that Conde orange is my favourity guitar colour at the moment, serious!

Jim.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2004 23:15:19

musicalgrant

Posts: 188
Joined: Oct. 21 2004

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

He seems to be a man with no past or biography....

I have never really thought about it, but you have a point their Ron, I will look into it a bit more lol never know what you might dig up!

Cheers Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 1:23:19

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Jim Opfer)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer
Ron, that Conde orange is my favourity guitar colour at the moment, serious!
Jim.

That's what Emilio plays right now. Lovely colour. Lovely sound too.

Kate

_____________________________

Emilio Maya Temple
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 9:33:17

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Kate)

quote:

That's what Emilio plays right now. Lovely colour. Lovely sound too.

Got the CD Kate and got the same guitar.
Please pass my regards to Emilio.

Jim.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 11:13:32

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria

Someone call the British tabloids, infamous even here in the States!

And next we have to do an expose on Graf-Martinez!

What is there to expose? What do you feel he is being insincere about?

For that matter, what is the big deal about Juan? Maybe I'm missing something here but I really don't see what all the fuss is about.

OH MY GOD, YOU MEAN HE WASN'T ACTUALLY BORN IN SPAIN AND HE'S PLAYING FLAMENCO??!! OUTRAGEOUS, CALL THE POLICE!!

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 11:32:41

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M

Jeez! Niño Ricardo died in 1974 at the age of 70, so Juan must be a bit older than what I thought he was!

Surely Jon must be joking when he says he was born and brought up around Brighton.

Ron, he published his flamenco method in 1978 when he was already established with several albums under his belt, tours with people like Rafael Romero etc, so its not that big of a suprise.

And no, I wasn't joking about his ebing born here. I have this from a reliable source. Its no suprise that he picked up a tan if he lived in Spain for years, and probably still makes regular trips.

Still can't quite see what the fuss is about though, or why Mike is talking about 'exposés'

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 11:49:42

Escribano

Posts: 6416
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Jon Boyes)

I think Mike is being ironic

According to Juan's web site:

quote:

Juan Martín is a native of Andalucía, where he still has a home in Málaga

quote:

Malagueño, afincado en Londres ha paseado a lo largo de todo el mundo la guitarra flamenca

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 12:30:18

Escribano

Posts: 6416
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

He seems to be a man with no past or biography....

He has one posted at http://www.flamencovision.com/home.html

quote:

Jeez! Niño Ricardo died in 1974 at the age of 70, so Juan must be a bit older than what I thought he was!

According to Juan's PR:

quote:

Estudió con Paco de Lucía cuando solo tenía 19 años en Madrid en el año 1967 y antes había sido asiduo con Niño Ricardo en la famosa tienda de guitarras de los hermanos Conde

If my maths is right, he would be about 56 this year.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 12:34:50

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Hi Jon,
No big fuss or anything. I don't really know anything at all about Juan Martin.
I've only seen him on the telly a few times and I thought he was from Madrid.
Also, I guessed he was in his 40's or something.
However I read some discussions on other Forums about him being English, so I was just curious. I wasn't questioning the "authenticity" of his playing or anything.
In fact Rafael is Welsh/Spanish and lived and learned guitar in Spain since he was a kid.
(He can also switch from practically "RP" English to "machine gun" Spanish in an instant!)

If Juan Martin was born and brought up in Brighton and has made International success in both playing and teaching, then it's a credit to him.
If he feels that he wishes to be thought of as Spanish, then it's his own professional and personal choice, especially if he perhaps feels that reference to his English roots could possibly be detrimental to his career.

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 12:47:39

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

He has one posted at http://www.flamencovision.com/home.html

Thanks Simon.

"A celebrated virtuoso of the flamenco guitar who has been voted into the top three guitarists in the world by US magazine Guitar Player".

I wonder who the other two are?

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 13:02:16

Skai

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

"A celebrated virtuoso of the flamenco guitar who has been voted into the top three guitarists in the world by US magazine Guitar Player".

I wonder who the other two are?

Considering it's a magazine called Guitar Player and being dominated by electric or acoustic players, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the other 2 was Michael Olsen 'Fire' Fingers..

Skai

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 27 2004 13:31:53

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Escribano
I think Mike is being ironic

Ah, whoops. Yes, I see. Sorry for going off on one.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron
However I read some discussions on other Forums about him being English, so I was just curious. I wasn't questioning the "authenticity" of his playing or anything.

No worries Ron, I think I'm a bit tetchy at the mo - Dylan has been keeping us awake at nights and I am completely shattered. Sleep deprivation drives me nuts. Shame really, as I have some great news, but I'm too grumpy to spill the beans at the moment.

Just for the record, I don't think Juan is a particularly stella player, but I do think he knows his stuff as Grant says. I think Juan has contributed hugely to flamenco by way of his tuition materials, rather than as a player.

It looks like he does gloss over his early British upbringing in his bio, and emphasise his Spanish credentials, but who wouldn't? He's pretty shrewd at the marketing side of things - good luck to him. He was certainly in the right place at the right time when it came to the british market and capitalised on it.

Jon

PS Guitar Player used to have Juan Serrano up there in their top three as well, I believe.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 28 2004 18:13:33

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Jim Opfer)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer

quote:

That's what Emilio plays right now. Lovely colour. Lovely sound too.

Got the CD Kate and got the same guitar.
Please pass my regards to Emilio.

Jim.

Will do Jim, and to Stephen Hill as well when I see him. Tonight Emilio is playing at he Eshavira with Ruben Dantes which I am looking forard to. Have been stuck at home suffering the dreaded lurgy and had to miss last nights gig where Emilio played with the jazzers at the Jazz festival organised by Gerardo Nuñez. Harold DVDed it though so got to see it sitting at home

Kate

_____________________________

Emilio Maya Temple
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000CA6OBC
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emiliomaya

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 28 2004 19:05:31

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Yeah Jon,
Juan Martin started his career when it would have been pretty uncool to not be "Spanish" and a musician has to make a living.
I understand completely where the guy is coming from.
I've never been too keen on his solo compositions, but he is a solid player and if you listen to a couple of the clips of him playing with a singer on Flamenco-World, you can certainly hear that.

My main concern is with the snake in Firefingers' band.
Did that snake ever get a good write up in "Snake and Reptiles Monthly"?

I ask you. Is it a fair World?

Hope Dylan is sleeping better.
It'll all pass so amazingly quickly, I can assure you.
So treasure these times amigo.
Soon he'll be tapping money off you to go to the pub or buy a car.
And then you'll be thinking..."Where's ma wee boy gone?" LOL!

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 28 2004 21:00:02

musicalgrant

Posts: 188
Joined: Oct. 21 2004

RE: A question for Grant. (in reply to Ron.M)

Hi Ron

I've been in touch with Helen Juan's wife and she has sent me some interviews to read, and it says he is from Malaga, and is moving to live in Spain.

If you want to see the articles let me know I'll email them to you.

Cheers Grant

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2004 13:47:10