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mark indigo -> RE: Baile appreciation thread (Dec. 10 2015 21:42:25)
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i dunno what all the fuss is about the dancer with Tomatito.
I saw the same dancer in what sounds like the same show at Sadlers Wells in London that same year, and although the dancer was right on time all she seemed to have was machine gun footwork.
I didn't think she had the kind of overall feeling and expressiveness that I like in a good dancer.
She was too robotic and machine-like for my liking.
This always seems to be the case with guitarists who have a token dancer in their "group" - usually someone who does sections of fast footwork and the crowd wets themselves with excitement 'cos at last they think they are getting a bit of the "real thing"
(they usually don't recognise the wailing and shouting of the singer as being the "real thing" or at least if they do then it's a bit of the "real thing" they don't really like.... [&:])
Admittedly part of the "problem" is that the dancer has to fit in with the guitarists solo stuff, so they don't really get an opportunity to develop a proper baile (ie. entrada, llamadas, letras, falsetas, escobillas etc.)
There should be a dramatic development to the dance, with proper build up to the footwork, so without that it often comes across as disjointed and out of context (to me), just a bit of token dance thrown, although IMO it is usually just some token footwork thrown in, not proper dance.
Also I suspect they hire someone with appropriate machine-gun footwork to "thrill" the audience, without too much actual expression or artistry to overshadow the star of the show.....
I thought the singers were no big deal, sort of cardboard cut-out Camaroneros.
I thought they were good at reminding us how good Camaron was without actually being as good as Camaron, which would be hard, if not impossible, seeing as they are not Camaron.
I guess what I mean is they were good Camaroneros![:D]
Tomatito on the other hand was legend, really as good as I hoped he would be, in no actual danger of being overshadowed, he was awesome.
There was a lot of light and shade in the show, a whole range of different mood, atmosphere and feeling.
Definitely not just "trio-rumba" stuff.
I just googled the show to try and find a review to confirm my memory of the set list (it was nearly two years ago) and found not just a review but my own comments on that review!!
here is a snippet from my comment: "He opened with Taranta moving into Minera, we heard a reworked version of the Alegrias "La Ardila", the beautiful "Two Much-Love Theme" with second guitar replacing Michel Camilo's piano, Tangos, Solea por Bulerias, and of course Bulerías"
the full review (not very complimentary about Tomatito, drooling over the dancer[8|]) and my irate (but controlled and just a bit over the top verbose) rant in response is here:
http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/tomatito-sadlers-wells
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