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Posts: 58
Joined: Mar. 21 2007
From: The Netherlands
RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Jim Opfer)
I think Paco Pena playing solo is one of the best things someone can hear in flamenco. And you have the opportunity to see him with such a small audience, so you probably can see and hear everything very clear! I envy you.....but wish you a very beautiful concert
RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Tomás Jiménez)
Hi Tomas,
Of course I know, remember we met last time in Bath? Have you had any contact with Mike Holmes recently?
It's not a private concert but there are very limited places so you should contact them as soon a spossible. It's also very remote, looks close to Glasgow on a map but it's about 3.5 hours drive away from here, country roads round west coast scottish sea lochs to get there etc.
Well let this be your first. Ailsa Craig (Paddy's milestone) in the distance. A truley magical island. This is my younger son John on the island of Arran taken last week. Get yourself up here sometime.
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RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Jim Opfer)
fantastic jim, beautifull, makes a change from andalucia! enjoy the concert, I saw Paco pena in a friends meeting house in brighton solo, 1987. changed my life. wnet to his course in 1988 in cordoba,
RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Jim Opfer)
Sounds fantastic Jim! I know you already know Paco quite well, but I'm sure you'll agree that he's at his best in a small venue, playing solo, no microphone. In the 70's I saw him play in a little village infant school near Falkirk. There must have been only 20 to 30 of an audience. (Arts Council funded!) It was great and I was the only guitar nut there, so I had plenty time to chat with him afterwards. The only problem was that since it was an infant school, all the chairs were really tiny. Paco managed to get hold of an adult chair out of the office. We must have looked a bunch of idiots.
Have a great time!
cheers,
Ron
_____________________________
A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
ps. i like the photos, looks nice and sunny on that island i gues it explains the Scotish tan. looking at your profile photo, i think u are the most tanned scotish person i ever seen.
Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England
RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Jim Opfer)
Jim, thanx for the pics - I'd no idea that's what it looked like! Someone once told me that Keats described the island as a 'craggy ocean pyramid', and now I can see why.
On the other hand someone else told me that it's the third largest gannetry in Europe, and so is just a large rock covered in bird poo!
RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Jim Opfer)
HI JIM Concert sounds great a real wild place in the west -isnt it funny we scots go looking for flamenco overseas when all the time the flamencos really want to come to Argyll (it really must be revenge time -do Ihave to come to Scotland to escape you lot!!!) let us know how it goes but wouldnt let him near the hill guitar he would be awa on the first ferry with it before you know it.........!!
RE: Paco Pena in Crear venue (in reply to Jim Opfer)
Hello Jim,
I would like to hear how this goes. I'm still hacked off after going to Sadlers Wells to see him a couple of weeks ago. I know it was primarily a dance show, and that he has to make a living, but it was contrived and cheesy. Musically it was just so diluted, I just could not believe what they did with the Cana. As for the dance, I thought it was ego and bluster (p1ss and wind) rather than pride and passion. Flamenco Riverdance. What a waste of such great talent.
ORIGINAL: Crows I'm still hacked off after going to Sadlers Wells to see him a couple of weeks ago.
Hi Andy,
Well that's a really interesting point of view cos I was there too. I did enjoy the show, though I agree it was contrived. The first sentence in the programme was 'flamenco is a semi-improvised form', and I thought 'not in this show it isn't!'
I did think the tocaores were all really low key - they didn't show off at all, but I didn't mind that. As long as it's played well, I can enjoy straightforward stuff.
Yeah some of the dancing was completely over the top - what did you think of the guy in the red patent leather boots dancing on tiptoe?!! I mean that was just a circus act. Clever though.
I guess my overall opinion was that it wasn't flamenco in terms of fire, passion and duende. But it was great entertainment.
I'm glad that a dancer agrees with me. Oh man, the red leather boots and the tippy toe thing......that was the final nail in the coffin for me . I think maybe my expectations were unrealistic. Coming home I really found those posters on the Tube so annoying...in particular the Independant quote!!! Misconceptions abound. I'm banging on a bit here, but I really,really disliked all the rehearsed humor and 'spontaneity'.....but, prior to the red shoes....the castanet and guitar duo...sheeit, that was one of the worst things I have ever seen, monumentally cr4p.