Ricardo -> RE: Paco in Edinburgh (Oct. 25 2005 17:05:51)
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I agree with Ron about Nunez, great performer even though he is modern. But what we each get from a performance is very personal. If you get bored or distracted, you miss things in the music. Everytime I have ever seen Nunez (that is ALOT), he delivers 100%. One concert I saw last year was outstanding. But I have argued with people who feel Nunez is a cold player who diplays his technique and nothing more, even who saw the same performance has me! Too bad for them, but everyone looks for different things in a concert, or goes with preconcieved notions. But in regards to Paco, I don't know what you guys are going on and on about. I saw Paco perform in Feb 2004, many times before that, but this was his BEST I have ever seen. I have the DVD from Germany in May 2004, same music, but he made mistakes all over, not very inspired etc, so I think it really does have more to do with the way Paco plays than the music itself. I think Paco is getting burnt that is all. I mean, there is no jazz band in his Rondena, Minera, Fandangos, bulerias,Alegrias...right? So why were you not moved by those solo pieces Ron? Did you honestly expect him to play Celosa? So if he had an off night, is it fair to say the man will never play good again? I have collected lot's of bootleg concerts of Paco, and I can say when Paco is not in the mood, it is not good, but when he is on fire, it is not to be missed. Regardless of the date (60's-05). I am too lazy to go through and pull all quotes, but in response to this crap: "paco peeked creatively in the 70's/ no one up loads from Luzia or Cositas.../ Paco not good at jazz compared to the younger guys/ etc. Look, all this reveals is the tastes of the people making the statements. Paco's peak was in the 70's? Maybe his TECHNIQUE, but creativity? Come on guys. Just because you don't like the stuff since Fuente was recorded, does not mean that is the best he had to offer and went down hill ever since. Fanasia was brilliant, no doubt. But Duende was way more advanced musically. The falsetas in Punta del Faro were way ahead. The tremolo from Doblan companas, I am SURE he played in his last concert, maybe folks were sleeping. Ok, then came Fuente, which musically was not any different or advanced from Duende, same style just new falsetas. Everyone goes bonkers for this one because it is "pure" guitar, no orchestras or whatever. For me, this material and Duende could all be on the same disc. But Almoraima was a lot different, extremely creative and more advanced musically. But the biggest leap IMO was to Solo Quiero Caminar. He started useing dynamics, and his "group", so starting here, the "purists" can't handle it anymore. But this was the BEGGINNING of the modern FLAMENCO guitar stuff. Paco still plays in a similar style to this record. Siroco was more of this style, but no band, just guitar. So again the "purists" can enjoy this more. Whenever you get into something, that time period sticks with you. For me, Paco's "peak" was in 1991 when he played Nino Curro, La barrossa, and the bulerias "Soniquete" from Zyrab. For ME that is the creative peak. But that is about the time I first heard him and started buying his albums. Luzia is an extentsion of this style, which I welcomed whole heartedly. But he did have a couple of things that moved forward, like the Rondena, Solea, Siguiriyas, very different, more modern. I don't like it as much, but I recognize it as creative and advancing foward. Just because I don't like it as much as Nino curro or whatever, does not mean it is not music evolving in a forward direction. So when Cositas came out I expected more of the same like Luzia, but was surprised by what I heard. I think that opening bulerias is really different for Paco, different phrasing style and rhythmic expression. Very fresh and insteresting, great playing. I listen to Fantasia all the time, but even more I listen to a few tracks on Cositas. Live he does a medly of the bulerias from Cositas, and for the sake of the singers tone, he altered it a bit. It loses something live IMO because of this, but that is the way it goes. I already noticed how he is changing the music from Cositas in his live show. But if you go to Paco's show expecting or hoping for "Guajiras de Lucia" or "Celosa", well, I don't know what to say to that... Paco's work expands not just a long time period, but very different stylistic periods. In his concert, it is impossible for him to please EVERY fan. So all I would ask is that he plays whatever he wants, and with feeling, because I already have the cds and videos from old. Flamenco is not supposed to be classical pieces, always the same. Ricardo
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