Bulerias: Cepero and Moraito

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pacowannab

Posts: 35
Joined: Mar. 3 2008

Bulerias: Cepero and Moraito

I really enjoy listening to bulerias by Paco Serrano. I also enjoy listening to bulerias by Moraito Chico. Are they both representaitves of the Jerez style, or are they both representatives of the "swing" style? Also, how does Paco Cepero fit into this picture (he is from Jerez, isn't he)?

Lastly, how important is having "monster" technique (ie Tomatito, Gerardo Nunez, PDL, Emilio Maya etc) to playing great bulerias (given that some may prefer Moraito and Cepero, etc to PDL and Nunez for this palo)? Is there a point at which virtuosity diminishes a buleria (perhaps analogous to the widdle-widdle-widdle of the Berkley College of Music graduate heavy metal gods)?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 17:23:59

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Bulerias: Cepero and Moraito (in reply to pacowannab)

Are you suggesting diminishing returns on virtuosity?

Strictly speaking, Flamenco and Rock/Metal are folk music. Maybe there is a point that folk music loses it's appeal to the folk when it becomes to technical or less accessible (harder to "get" or get to know, like conocer as opposed to saber). If it's too complicated, it can't resonate with the folk.

But I read it on the internet that PDL is god, so I wouldn't go around suggesting that there might be anyone who doesn't love him.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 25 2008 19:15:15

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Bulerias: Cepero and Moraito (in reply to pacowannab)

Paco Cepero DOES have "monster technique". He is one of the speediest and most precise and "macho" virtuosos ever. Moraito is no slouch either. Both guys really look up to Paco, and probably respect the others too. Moraito has played side by side with Tomatito and Vicente many times. Jerez style has it's own "swing", and yes Cepero and Morao have that as part of their way to play. Paco Serrano is from Cordoba.

Ricardo

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 27 2008 6:03:19

pacowannab

Posts: 35
Joined: Mar. 3 2008

RE: Bulerias: Cepero and Moraito (in reply to Ricardo)

Thanks for the response, Ricardo. If Paco Serrano is from Cordoba, and Vicente Amigo is from Cordoba, then why do Paco Serrano's bulerias sound more like Moraito's bulerias (ie they "swing") than Vicente Amigo's bulerias (to my untrained ears)? Can individual styles make a muddle of the idea of regional styles?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 27 2008 23:21:11

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Bulerias: Cepero and Moraito (in reply to pacowannab)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pacowannab

why do Paco Serrano's bulerias sound more like Moraito's bulerias (ie they "swing") than Vicente Amigo's bulerias (to my untrained ears)? Can individual styles make a muddle of the idea of regional styles?

Because your ears are as you say "untrained". And also you are just listening to guitar solos. Listen to Vicente accompany the bulerias track 5 on his album with Jose Merce, for a more "jerez" style of playing, yet still with the Vicente stamp. Track 7 of the same album has Vicente and Morao together, and it is hard to tell them apart at first. Then after you soak that in go back and listen close to some of Vicente's solo stuff again and you will notice some little nuances of "swing" tucked away inbetween the modern style falsetas. But it is true the "regional" bounderies have lifted as the world has gotten much smaller.

Most people nowadays try to do a bit of "Jerez" swing in certain interpretations of bulerias, and of course, young players like Diego, Moraito's son, have picked up lots of tricks specifically from guys like VICENTE, and incorporated it into his own strong jerez-root style. So no need to make it seem so cut and dry like this "guy always swings, but THAT guy never does" etc. Just keep the ears open is all.

Ricardo

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 28 2008 11:46:22