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Pimientito -> RE: 2010 Sanlucar - A Flamenco Odyssey (Jul. 20 2010 12:17:08)
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Sanlucar started early this year with a special festival just outside of Seville on Saturday night in the puebla de cazalla. Many people went to see the great line up such as Jose Merce, Moraito, Marina Heredia and la Pipa. Unfortunately I had a gig that night so I left early, after very little sleep, next morning to drive to Sanlucar. What a day to arrive....Spain was in the final of the world cup against Holland and the whole country was football crazy. We spent the evening in the town watching the match on the TV screens that had been put outside the bars. Paul the octopus came through once more and when Spain won the whole country went absolutely crazy. I hope someone will post a video of the town. There must have been a million simultaneous traffic violations after the match with people dressed in flags on top of cars blowing airhorns and letting off fireworks, while recklessly driving under the influence of alcohol.
At Gerardos house Gerardo (spain) and Tino (holland) were watching the match together on the sofa and both had to leave the room on several occasion when there were penalties. Eventually everyone arrived very late after the match to the welcome party and the Sanlucar week officially began. There were courses in Baile with Carmen cortes, percussion with Cepillo, sevillanas, cante with Jesus Mendez and guitar with Gerardo. This year was the first year that Antonio carrion did a course in accompanying cante. I didnt get time to do that course so I will let someone else review it.
There were a lot less people this year with a noticeable drop in numbers from people outside of Europe. The advanced guitar course and the fiestas were sorely missing guys like Ricardo and Errol. Ricardo often gets asked to demonstrate the trickier falsetas but without him there Gerardo kept asking me to do it. It was nice to find the material a lot more familiar than before. With repetition I found that it becomes easier to see how Gerardo "recycles" his techniques and ideas and I could see the logic of his method more clearly. As per usual the course was divided into both amateur and professional levels. I think Gerardo went a bit easier this year than previously. He demonstrated less material and most of it was actually possible to play. His thumb work is still frightening though and since the accident to his right hand he has developed it to superhuman ability.
First night was guitar night at the peña flamenca with some great performances by the students and then off to Contratiempos for a reunion. Activities continued every night of the week. Second night was fiesta at bodega la gitana, 3rd night was wine tasting and concert at bodega arguesa and 4th night we were joined by Kate, Norman and Harold for the concert in barbadillos bodega.
On the final saturday Gerardo organised a concert "enclave de sol" which was a huge sucess. The line up was incredible, Antonio Rey who played divinely, Jesus mendez, Maria mezcla, a young (and very beautiful) singer from sanlucar with miguel de Valencia on guitar, cepillo, gerardo and finally Moraito Chico with luis "el zambo" from jerez. It was a fantastic concert and a great finale to the course. Lots of people went partying with Moraito and Diego Carrasco after the concert until way into the morning.
What is difficult to write about is the great atmosphere among the students. Just want to say a big thanks to everyone who came for being such cool people and making the week so special. Now we have had job of sorting out the recordings, tabs and photos of the week.
Unofficial foroflamenco Tshirts were a big hit...It was great to see Gerardo wear his for the concert at the castle. There are still some left in large and not so large sizes. If I get a lot of messages about them I will make a separate thread.
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cool graffiti in gran'a 
