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Richard Jernigan -> RE: Chocolate died :( :( :( (Jul. 29 2005 4:07:56)
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Living in Palo Alto in the late '80s, I tried to explain to my girlfriend that the Gypsy Kings, while excellent musicians and entertainers, weren't exactly what most andalucians would call flamenco.
She had grown up in Japan, raised as a proper young lady with the correct tennis, tea ceremony, flower arranging, ballet and piano teachers. Her father was a great fan of classical music. As a girl she was regularly taken to concerts. She spoke good castellano, learned at Holy Cross High School in Tokyo from a Spanish woman, and practiced on family vacations to Acapulco.
"But my friend P___ says the Gypsy Kings are flamenco?"
P___ was a pro jazz sax player, so his musical opinion outranked mine as a mere amateur flamenco guitarist--though P___had asked me to play a time or two when he came over to the house.
A few months later a Spanish dance troupe came to San Francisco. My girlfriend showed me the advance in the Chronicle. "Is this what the andaluces would call flamenco?"
Chocolate's name was on the list. I had heard him four or five times in Spain. Not having seen the principals in the show, nor mentioning Chocolate, I said, "It might be flamenco."
"Would you like to go?"
In other words, "We are going."
The show started with some good professional dance numbers accompanied by two excellent guitarists. The dance lighting dimmed, a spot picked up Chocolate as he came forward. Accompanied by a single guitarist, his right hand exended, he launched into Frijones' solea.
My girlfriend's eyes got big. She concentrated on the singing. During a guitar falseta she tugged on my sleeve, leaned close and whispered in my ear, "My God, who is that?"
"Chocolate."
"What is he doing?"
"Flamenco."
RNJ
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