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I put up this translation of an interview with Manuel Morao...most of you guys probably find his views too conservative, but he has some interesting things to say.
Thanks Estella! Hearing Manuel Morao play for Terremonto is what got me interested in Flamenco in the first place. He looks remarkably healthy. Does he still play? I envy your ability to sit down and talk with these great artists!
I enjoyed your interview very much, you asked very good questions, and I feel I got to understand Manuel Morao's point of view. I happen to agree with him; not because I am an accomplished artist, but the flamenco of old, and tradition he describes is the mucis I love.
Ron, he looks even better in person than in the picture...great head of hair, quick mind too.
"Does he still play"...now that's a question that should have been asked...I believe he rarely plays in public any more, but I can't swear to it. I also should have asked about his memories of Javier Molina, his mentor, the man who 'designed' Jerez toque.
Anthony, he kept complaining that everyone sounds the same these days, no personality. I hear this from a lot of oldtimers, but then it's funny...when I listen to the really old singers, they all sound the same to me! I think we all identify with a certain era and have no problem distinguishing the artists of that era...but when we listen to those of another era, it all sounds the same.
It's easy for me to sympathize with Manuel Morao's perspective...he's just further gone than me . I tried very hard to enjoy Gerardo's concert...and failed...I've "tried" to like Niño Josele and so many others I'm told are great...and failed. Turns out, your taste has a life of its own and there's no manipulating it. Even when you hear oldtimers like Juan Habichuela make benevolent statements about contemporary flamenco, you can almost bet their heart isn't in it. Habichuela is the father of Ketama, so it wouldn't do for him to be too critical .
It was Juan Maya 'Marote' I interviewed, shortly before his death in fact. If anyone would like to read the interview it's up at Flamenco-world, more interesting than Morao's I think:
I also had the sad task of writing his obituary some months later. Few people realized the quotes I included from Paco de Lucía, Fosforito and Habichuela were obtained by tracking them down via telephone...none of them, not even Habichuela from Granada knew Juan had died until I told them. The obit is at:
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. I tried very hard to enjoy Gerardo's concert...and failed...I've "tried" to like Niño Josele and so many others I'm told are great...and failed. Turns out, your taste has a life of its own and there's no manipulating it. Even when you hear oldtimers like Juan Habichuela make benevolent statements about contemporary flamenco, you can almost bet their heart isn't in it. Habichuela is the father of Ketama, so it wouldn't do for him to be too critical 
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