|
Dedos -> RE: SABICAS CENTENNIAL (Apr. 14 2012 0:56:58)
|
The information given in this thread is fascinating and instructive. Many have stories that humanize Sabicas. The only ones I can remember were in the Teatro Monumental in Madrid in 1974 {look at the last 3 lines of the script under the autographed picture for the date of the concert}. Sabicas had signed on to do something like a month run there and I went to see him the second night, I think...or maybe the third {whatever} and the last night. It was all you could expect, of course, so I need not go there. What was interesting was the last night he was to play. The Monumental held, I think, about 1200 people {yes, yes, I could be wrong...but not by much} and there were only about 12 people there...can you imagine? I got a seat about 10th row center and was happy as a clam.
Interestingly, down on the front row were some old geezers {like I am now} and one of them was my first guitar teacher, Rafael Nogales. Every time Sabicas ended a number, he would stand up and yell “Bravo, Maestro!”. The old fan club, no doubt.
The other thing that stands out in my memory was when I went backstage to do the fan thing and get his autograph. His brother Diego graciously led me to the door and opened it so I could go in. Sabicas was seated right in front of the door and beholding the guy was like a religious experience to me. Chills, heart pounding, etc…we’ve all been there when we see an idol up close. So I’m looking at Sabicas and he beckons me in {how many thousands of times had he seen a star-struck fan and recognized the “symptoms”}…anyway, as I entered I could see more of the room and I noticed another person seated to his left. Who else? Paco…
Whoa, sez I, I’ve hit the jackpot! BUT…I noticed a distinct scowl on Paco’s face and a look that shot daggers….{I distinctly remember that look…no mistake – I remember it after all these years} I had inadvertently intruded on a meeting of the greats and, by Paco’s expression, was really not welcome. Sabicas, however was the soul of graciousness and very slowly and painstakingly signed the program you see in the picture. I have heard stories {and that’s all they are} of him not being able to write {like Django, who was taught to sign his own name by Stephan Grappelli}. It would be interesting to know.
Being the normal American guitar fan, I took my Nikon and my Sony cassette recorder and got some lovely substandard photos and bad quality recordings, one of each I offer {check the sound file "Sabicas Taranta 1974 concert tape" in the "Audio & Video Uploads" section} for archival reference if nothing else.
On a separate subject, I would like to hear Sabicas talk! if you watch this clip by YouTuber “Sabicas17” you will see him being interviewed {at 1:57} on RTVE in Spain in black and white, but “Sabicas17” decided to record over the interview with a guitar number. Does anyone have the original?
http://www.deflamenco.com/revista/pagina.jsp?codigo=3426
More to the point…does anyone have any tapes they might have made back then of Sabicas talking, practicing, or whatever? I’d like to hear some outtakes of this great man before the lid closes, folks.
Dedos
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
|
|
|
|
