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Ron.M -> RE: Paco de Lucia - 2010 Concert in Germany - Full Video (Dec. 23 2010 9:06:45)
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quote:
but comparing Paco with Manitas de Plata is ridiculous and probably the most stupid comparison i have ever heard in the foro.
I thought that might stir things a bit...[;)][:D]
I used the wrong word "sounds". I mean obviously Paco cannot be compared to Manitas de Plata as a guitarist.
What I meant was that Paco concerts seem to have the same sort of "aura" about them as the Manitas ones, with the audience waiting in expectation to see "The World's Greatest Guitarist"...so it was more like an audience waiting to see a Shuttle Launch or Total Eclipse, rather than experiencing a "normal" Flamenco concert.
I remember once reading in a Pohren book that he was NOT a good accompanist to have in a "live" situation, because all the audience were ignoring the singer and waiting to witness Paco doing "something amazing".
I was only in my twenties when I read it and thought Pohren was an old fart and how dare he criticize Paco de Lucia...but I see now what he was getting at.
Paco was only about 22 or something when he was crowned "The Greatest Flamenco Guitarist there has Ever Been."
While it must have been pleasing to him at first, it surely must have turned into a burden for him as he got older, with people always expecting him to play "amazing things" all the time.
Also the constant worry about losing the crown, like a World Heavyweight Champ losing his title and the fear of being considered a "has been".
Players like Paco Peña or Gerardo etc don't have that worry and can at least enjoy doing concerts and giving schools and workshops and living a fairly "normal" musician's life, while Paco has been pretty much a recluse most of his life.
So to me anyway, his live concerts seem to be too much of an "event" or "spectacle" rather than a concert of Flamenco music.
Even when I saw him in Edinburgh, while I was waiting for the show to start I could pick up bits of conversation from some of the younger guys near me, talking about various Electric players and arguing about who was the best "shredder" etc and "Friday Night in San Francisco"... so they were not there for the Flamenco, but just to see some "amazing guitar playing" from a guitar legend.
(I see also in this 2010 concert he did his "Guitar Picado Duel" bit with the other guitarist...where Paco "wins". He did the same thing in Edinburgh years ago too.)
The "Teatro Real" live concert must be the best concert of solo Flamenco guitar I have ever heard (although Grisha comes pretty close now), so I certainly DON'T think Paco is any Manitas de Plata.
I think however that he IS trapped inside his own legend and there is nothing he can do about it now except just accept it and try to rise to public expectations on stage and pose for photographs and sign guitars for adoring fans.
So I think the "crown" has been more of a poisoned chalice than a great honour IMO.
I just don't think Paco's concerts are great "Flamenco" shows. More just "Paco" shows.
As I said, I'd rather hear Merce/Moraito any day... but that's maybe just personal preference, so I don't expect others to agree with me.
cheers,
Ron
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