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Man, i would love to see one day a group Bulerias with Paco, Gerardo, Tomatito, etc, and as special guest Juan!!..I think he would p!ss his pants haha lol Oleee
whoagh!!! I wasn't expecting this! Had no idea what I was starting!
Seriously though, I'm not really bothered about people's opinions of JM, or how they feel about him, I'm sorta more interested in the "facts" as it were, 'cos I think that will sort all the other stuff out....
I don't really care what he calls himself, or where he was born or grew up, but I do care about him being honest about it.
I'm not interested in putting him down as a guitarist or for being successful, but I don't like thinking that he just might be duping the public, not to mention the concert promoters into the bargain....
What made me post this here was seeing on Wikipedia that he was born in Malaga, and the same thing being published in a UK newspaper (the Independent).
I have serious doubts about the truth of this, partly because it doesn't actually appear in any of JM's publicity (or at least not in the original book and some later videos I looked at), and partly because I have heard it from at least 3 people who told me they knew him in London in the 70's (probably including your older dance teacher Val, if you are anywhere on the M4 corridor), one of whom is now dead.
JM's own website is sort of vague about his origins, saying he is a "native of Andalucía" and referring to his "early years in Málaga" without actually saying definately where he was born and grew up. So why does Wikipedia say he was born in Malaga and that he's Spanish? And why do newspapers say the same?
I wonder if the tabloid press would do some research if they thought they could make a sensational story out of it?
I wonder if the tabloid press would do some research if they thought they could make a sensational story out of it?
Nah Mark, I don't think the press would regard it as anything interesting. Now, what they would regard as sensational is Julian Clary being found with a call-girl.
cheers,
Ron
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A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
IMO, Mark, all the answers to your questions about Juan are contained in his playing.
Flo, totaly agree about people like Jason. If you search my old posts on his playing, you'll see your preaching to the choir on that subject. I knew the guy was brilliant the first time I heard him.
There is the issue of flamenco soloists who made their living outside Spain in the 50's, 60, 70's, and how it affected their playing. Based on guys like Sabicas, Escudero, Juan Serrano, and Paco Pena, I think it would be reasonable to conclude that this career decision led to a stagnation of development in terms of style. None of these guys really seemed to move forward in style of play thoughout their careers except perhaps Escudero. Or is it simply a matter of that's the way they play because that's the way they wanted to play? I think it's probably not an issue today because of you tube, a ton of DVD's , cd's etc. which could keep players in contact with current trends.
I wonder if the tabloid press would do some research if they thought they could make a sensational story out of it?
Nah Mark, I don't think the press would regard it as anything interesting. Now, what they would regard as sensational is Julian Clary being found with a call-girl.
cheers,
Ron
Probably be a better headline if Juan was caught in the public loo's with Julian in a Spanish cops uniform
even if i didnt agree with you, i can work with this, discuss it , makes sence to me, its just facts, not personal keeping it to the subject of the discussion.
but i get a bit annoyed when people get theyr back up if other give an opinion that its different to them and dont wanna hear to what you have to say and start getting personal, and rate posts down etc. Or start labeling you as a trouble maker or hater.
in all my time here, JM is the only guitarist i have ever criticised to my memory, but i praised about 3000 guitarists. Many people criticised guitarists i like, i took it.
i gues thats why i got a litlle TOO graphical last night
Sorry to the beginner guitarists who study him atm, it is a good beginner book, probably the best, the way its set up , it makes sence and its eazy to follow.
i fixed the ratings again, sorry got lazy after page 2 thats as far as i got
Nasty! I think my email response indicated I didn't believe you, but in the universe of potentialities it seemed plausible! Perhaps in another quantum universe it was!
I have serious doubts about the truth of this,......because I have heard it from at least 3 people who told me they knew him in London in the 70's, one of whom is now dead.
I kham famous eeenglish detective Sherlock Khomes! I eenvestigate de nativty of the great malagueñan Juan Martin. I find hees certifado de nacimiento een Malaga and say to djew all dat he ease true Malaga man. De people khoo say day know khim en London khave beeg accidente, dat is why day are ded. Khee ees the third best guitareest and third sexiest man een all of España (after Banderas and Aznar) Dees man ees Hero een España, with all de other great Malageños como Paco de lucia, Picasso y Beckham. Djo all leeve khim alone now. We love Juan
No, ziss is not Herr Doit, but in fact a certain Mr. Pimmelhaussen. Ve at Admin Kontrol haff vays of finding zees things out. It is our job.
Ziss "double registration" shall stop immediately. Othervise you vill be shot... And ziss fellow ...Juan...vatever....he shall also be shot... In fact EVERYVONE vill be shot!
By Orders,
The Management.
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A good guitar might be a good guitar But it takes a woman to break your heart
I kham famous eeenglish detective Sherlock Khomes! I eenvestigate de nativty of the great malagueñan Juan Martin. I find hees certifado de nacimiento een Malaga and say to djew all dat he ease true Malaga man. De people khoo say day know khim en London khave beeg accidente, dat is why day are ded. Khee ees the third best guitareest and third sexiest man een all of España (after Banderas and Aznar) Dees man ees Hero een España, with all de other great Malageños como Paco de lucia, Picasso y Beckham. Djo all leeve khim alone now. We love Juan
quote:
No, ziss is not Herr Doit, but in fact a certain Mr. Pimmelhaussen. Ve at Admin Kontrol haff vays of finding zees things out. It is our job.
Ziss "double registration" shall stop immediately. Othervise you vill be shot... And ziss fellow ...Juan...vatever....he shall also be shot... In fact EVERYVONE vill be shot!
This thread has everything! It's better than Cats! It's made me laugh, cry, feel warm inside and burn with rage, all in three pages! Also it's nice to see Flo starting to come out of his shell
I didn't mean to be too judgemental concerning you all, and Florian, it's just that I don't see that it is fair that all of this one way bashing of Juan Martin could be fair, so I presented an opposing view. I mean, he has to make a living, and you were destroying his public image on the Internet, so I defended him. I wonder what you would do if Juan Martin had something to say about all of you and mentioned you by name on his Web site, or in interviews. I think it is better to keep the foro a positive place than a place for negativity no matter what you say. Otherwise I think I will stay out of it in the future. I did not mean to make any enemies on the foro or loose integrity with you.
Its cool Gato, you are probably right, i shouldnt have gonne as in as much detail as i did. Sometimes i just speak my mind forgheting that alot of people can read this, i just speak as i would with my mates at a party.
Everyone has the right to earn a living anyway they can.
As for integrity, i dont make a habit of judjing one's integrity based on weather they agree with me or not. Not that its for me to judge anyway.
Well, I can be very mean, and that is not fair to you or anyone else. That is a matter of integrity. Anyway, I was playing the guitar after a moment of inspiration from watching a vid of Manita play, I got on the foro, and now that I put the guitar down, to post this about this JM thread, it seems I have lost all of my energy! I need to get back to work, and, isn't that what this is all about? I need a coffee, and to listen to some flamenco.......yet, I am glad we are not at war Flo.....it was worth the diversion, and, isn't that what we all need! That's why we are on the foro! It's the diversion. Diversion is good!
Why on earth would we be at war, i am not a vindictive or spitefull person, i pretty much let go straight away, life's to short to live it with grudges.. I am loud sometimes , yes lol...but i have always said different tastes should never come between us.
I dont care about JM, but it seems silly to argue with someone i know here, and have known and shared experiences and we have encouraged eachother and shared resources over a famous guitarist, weather i like hir or not. They are celebs, have alot of people who look out for they'r interest, we on the other hand only have eachother.
Ok, Flo, I dug out my old JM book in an effort to convince you... here is what it says
'Juan Martin is a virtuoso of the flamenco guitar with a rare combination of talents. He is a phenomenal player who has established an international name for himself as one of today's most exciting and most creative performers of Flamenco. In addition, he is an inspiring teacher with a passionate enthusiasm for communicating his enjoyment and knowledge of the art to others. Such generous commitment of energy to this labour of love is especially remarkable because flamenco guitarists tend by tradition to be very reticent, even secretive, about how they play.
Juan Martin's artistry has evolved in the very purest traditions of Flamenco. From his early years in Malaga, one of the great historic centres of Flamenco, he went on to gain wide experience playing with many of Spain's leading singers and dancers before attaining his present eminence as a solo recitalist and recording star. In London he has given many recitals at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Wigmore Hall and he is often asked to play on television and radio. In Madrid he has played to a very large audience in the prestigious Palacio de Congresos and he is now in demand for concert tours in many parts of the world.
For a flamenco guitarist to achieve such distinction, he must have more than just brilliant technique. In the art of Juan Martin one can quickly identify that extra-special magic as an uncompromising 'flamenco-ness' which comes from the soul. His compositions for the guitar sow an exceptionally wide-ranging mastery of rhythm and expression and a profound respect for the oldest traditions and origins of Flamenco. A deep understanding of the flamenco Cante, a rare distillation of experience which inspires much of his music, is a special hallmark of his style, as was memorably demonstrated in his recent London concert with the legendary gipsy singer Rafael Romero. Above all, his playing is powered by an earthy intensity of rhythm and emotion (or, to put it simply, duende) which is the true heart of flamenco.'
Now, don't you feel just a little bit bad about what you have said about this great man? He is like the Jet Li of flamenco among so many Steven Seagals... I think you need to go away and learn 'La feria' and ponder it's 'flamenco-ness', and when you feel you are ready to rejoin the foro we will be glad to welcome you back
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, I am such a hipocryt lol 
I need to get back to work, and, isn't that what this is all about? I need a coffee, and to listen to some flamenco.......yet, I am glad we are not at war Flo.....it was worth the diversion, and, isn't that what we all need! That's why we are on the foro! It's the diversion. 
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