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turnermoran -> RE: The obligatory Paco in SF thread (May 3 2012 9:52:07)
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Agreed most of the way around.
Antonio Serrano (harmonica) has links to Berklee College of Music (at least in Valencia Spain). Not sure if he is alumni, but there's a YouTube vid of him teaching Paco's compositions to young students at a Berklee workshop. IMO, he has a jazz-man's understanding of the music, with the flamenco background. His note choices on his solo in Zyryab were really creative. Beautiful. Jazz-like. And he is playing all the synth pads on keyboard that you hear on the records when required. That was kind of cool. I think Paco has him involved in the band's sound in the right proportion.
Personally, I feel like Antonio Sanchez struggled to play the 'call-and-response' 2 guitar section of Zyryab with the same fire as the original and the live recordings that followed from it. Not like it's easy (or I can play it at that tempo!), but that's the gig..isn't it? Otherwise, great.
Pirranha killed it. Had a wonderful percussion solo in the end of the show and swung all night long. Farru was rediculous. His head snaps were so fierce that it left a mist of water (or hair gel) like a halo each time. I think Paco caught some of the shrapnel once or twice. As mentioned, his foot work is crazy. A master of the drama. But I'm no baile aficionado. Hard not to be impressed though.
Duquende was terrific.
And for me, Paco was wonderful. I mean, what 64 year old (or however old he is now) has the same body as when he was 30. I wasn't disappointed in the least by his playing. and to be fair, it was my first time seeing him live. (so take all this with whatever that means for my review). He had a bulerias (3rd song) that eventually found it's way to Soniquete, and that was a thrill to hear him play it with such gusto after all these years.
I loved how the Bay Area represented though. Multiple standing ovations, screaming fans. I think the vibe was great and I think the band could feel it.
But between Paco, Vicente, and Diego Del Morao's show, I actually loved Diego's the best.
Someone gave me a bootleg of Vicente's show he did in SF from 5 years ago. I was surprised that the first half of the show this year was virtually the same as from 5 years ago. Not like Paco played much new material either..but I was hoping for something different. (he played some different material in the second half though).
Diego had a great mix of cante, guitar, and a great fim de festa that was super fun and loose. His show was such a surprise. I saw him the following night with Cigala, but preferred his own show. I attended 2 out of 3 of his workshops, and that was a treat too.
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