Monday, January 30, 2012

José Greco - Flamenco Dance - Farruca

José Greco, a flamenco dancer and choreographer who became known as the greatest Spanish dancer in the world. - Born in Montorio nei Frentani, Italy, of Spanish-Italian parents, he moved to Seville, Spain, at age 3, then was raised in Brooklyn from age 10. Mr. Greco began his career in 1937. In 1941, the already famous Argentine-born dancer La Argentinita saw him dance and asked him to be her partner. In 1951, Mr. Greco shared with Carol Channing the title of New Broadway Personality of the Year. The Jose Greco Dance Company, which integrated flamenco and ballet, toured worldwide. Mr. Greco retired from dance in the 1960's.

Puro Y Jondo; Agujetas, Cantaor

Dirección: Dominique Abel. Intérpretes: Agujetas: cante. Moraíto Chico: guitarra. (58:09)

Sinopsis: Documental sobre el cantaor flamenco Agujetas de Jerez. Contiene varias actuaciones inéditas (con la guitarra de Moraíto), material de archivo y numerosas declaraciones del cantaor. Un respetuoso retrato de la música y la personalidad de Agujetas. 

Documentary about Agujetas flamenco singer from Jerez. It contains several previously unreleased performances (with Moraíto guitar), archival material and numerous statements by the singer. A respectful portrait of the music and personality of Agujetas.

En la película-documental canta unos martinetes, grabados en su casa martillo en mano, que en el disco-complemento (de seis cortes) se extiende hasta los 17 minutos. El resto de los cantes se registraron en una venta de Chipiona sacando su salvaje imprevisible, desencajado, junto a Moraíto.


Agujetas: flamenco en vinagre. Bien conservado y malencarado. Es un cantaor de máximas flamencas, duras como su martinete neanderthal. Una de cal brillante: "Me levanto con dolor de cabeza porque todas las noches sueño el cante". Otra de arena tabicada: "Una persona que sepa leer y escribir no puede cantar flamenco, porque pierde la buena pronunciación".

Sunday, January 29, 2012

"Que me la den entera". Marisol - Pepa Flores. La nueva cenicienta.

Marisol canta y baila con Antonio el Bailarín en "la nueva cenicienta".

Cristina Hoyos, Antonio Gades, Soleá - (1972)

1972, a beautiful year. Here we have Cristina Hoyos, Antonio Gades, several wonderful unidentified male dancers (?) singer, and guitar. If anyone knows the additional musicians please post. Enjoy.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Reportaje del guitarrista Antonio Carrión | com.Flamenco | GiraldaTV

Con Chocolate, José Menese y Diego Clavel.
Reportaje dedicado al guitarrista sevillano Antonio Carrión, uno de los mejores guitarrista de acompañamiento del panorama flamenco actual.

ANTONIO CARRIÓN JIMENEZ, guitarrista payo, más conocido en el mundo artístico de la guitarra flamenca por ANTONIO CARRION, y también en sus inicios como Niño Carrión, nació en Mairena del Alcor (Sevilla), en el año de 1964, Procede de una familia de gran tradición flamenca, siendo hijo del cantaor Carrión de Mairena quien le enseña los primeros sones y compases del flamenco. Con la corta edad de trece años realiza su primera grabación discográfica, es sobrino nieto del cantaor mairenero Cancuna, quien compartió escenarios con Antonio Mairena. Antonio ha heredado de ambos la buena afición y el compás que le caracteriz
a destaca como acompañante del cante clásico, y ha sido elegido con tal fin por artistas como José Menese, El Lebrijano, Manuel Mairena, Curro Malena o Chocolate.

CARRIÓN ANTONIO JIMENEZ, payo guitarist, best known in the art world of flamenco guitar as Antonio Carrión, and also in its beginning as 
Niño Carrión, was born in Mairena del Alcor (Seville) in 1964, and comes from a family of great flamenco tradition, the son of singer Carrión de Mairena who taught him the first sounds and rhythms of flamenco. At the young age of thirteen Carrión made ​​his first recording. He is the nephew of singer Mairenero Cancuna, who shared the stage with Antonio Mairena. Antonio has inherited both the good taste and rhythm that characterizes him out as the best accompanist for classical canteand has been chosen because of these things by artists such as José Meneses, the Lebrijano, Manuel Mairena, Curro Malena or Chocolate.




http://antoniocarrion.com/

Friday, January 20, 2012

Soy gitano, banda sonora de la Película CAMARÓN de la Isla.

Promo Video for "Soy Giatano - Camarón"



He was born in San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain. His mother was Juana Cruz Castro, a basket weaver ("La Canastera"), whose gift of singing was a strong early influence. His father, Juan Luis Monje, was also a singer as well as a blacksmith, and had a forge where Camarón worked as a boy. His uncle José nicknamed him Camarón (Spanish for "Shrimp") because he was blonde and fair skinned. At the age of eight he began to sing at inns and bus stops with Rancapino to earn money. At sixteen, he won first prize at the Festival del Cante Jondo in Mairena de Alcor. Camarón then went to Madrid with Miguel de los Reyes and in 1968 became a resident artist at the Tablao Torres Bermejas where he remained for twelve years.

There he met Paco de Lucía with whom he recorded nine albums between 1969 and 1977. The two toured extensively together during this period. As Paco de Lucía became more occupied with solo concert commitments, Camarón worked with one of Paco's students, Tomatito.









In 1976, at the age of 25, Camarón married Dolores Montoya, a Romani girl from La Línea de la Concepción whom he nicknamed "La Chispa" (The Spark). At the time La Chispa was only 16. The couple had four children.

Many consider Camarón to be the single most popular and influential flamenco cantaor (singer) of the modern period. Although his work was criticized by some traditionalists, he was one of the first to feature an electric bass in his songs. This was a turning point in the history of Flamenco music that helped distinguish Nuevo Flamenco.

In later years, his health deteriorated due to heavy smoking and drug abuse. In 1992, José Monge Crúz died of lung cancer in Badalona, Spain. It was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended his funeral.


More docs - 2, 3 & 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai7RtlOd0vc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNAKkG75tsI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBzMZWrqM4U&feature=related
Camaron de la Isla Documentales:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcXVzm_EHpQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Q_UjfsiDc&feature=related

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Ballet Nacional de España

SUITE SEVILLA
Trailer Just Added! Fantastico!

Founded by the Theatre and Entertainment General Direction of the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 1978, with the name of Ballet Nacional Espanol and with Antonio Gades as its first Artistic Director (1978-1980), the BNE has been directed by Antonio (Ruiz Soler) (1980-1983), María de Ávila (1983-1986), Jose Antonio (1986-1992), Aurora Pons, Nana Lorca y Victoria Eugenia (1993-1997), Aída Gómez (1998-2001), Elvira Andres (2001-2004) y Jose Antonio (2004-2011). Now under the artistic direction of Antonio Najarro, the BNE is, among the projects of the National Institute for the Performing and Scenic Arts, one of the most known in the world, as ambassador of the Spanish culture. The Ballet has evolved in accordance with the  new times and has known how to preserve its interest in all styles of Spanish dance, performing choreographies such as those of Escuela Bolera, flamenco and stylized Spanish dance. On the other hand, it has combined tradition and modernity, not forgeting main aspects as training and performing new projects. During its 30 years, it has performed, in the most renowned theatres in the world, emblematic works as Jose Granero's Medea, Mariema's  Danza y Tronío,  Alberto Lorca's Ritmos, Jose Antonio's Fandango de Soler, Antonio's and Jose Antonio's versions of El Sombrero de Tres Picos, Pilar López's El Concierto de Aranjuez, and Antonio Gades's Bodas de Sangre and Fuenteovejuna.


Nuevo Post: "Ángeles caídos" & "Suite Sevilla" ensayos 2 - BNE [HD]

Nueva producción del BNE para 2012


http://balletnacional.mcu.es/

Saturday, January 14, 2012

La Fernanda as a Teenager - Rare Footage!

Fernanda de Utrera
La Gran Fernanda en otro de los palos donde ejerce su magisterio curtido en las numerosas noches de juergas junto a la guitarra amada de Diego el del Gastor. -- La Fernanda de Utrera had a special voice that was full of a gravelly emotion similar to that found in the old blues singers like Billie Holliday or Bessie Smith. La Fernanda had this special quality and in her later years her voice was a struggling pain filled cry but which contained a soulful tone that came straight from the blood in her veins.

She was born in Utrera, Seville, in 1923, four years previous to her sister, La Bernarda, who was to become her constant companion and singing partner. It was said during the 1960s and ‘70s that wherever you saw La Fernanda, her sister would not be far behind. They were to become two of the most respected female singers in the history of flamenco, performing at festivals and juergas together all over Spain. La Fernanda and La Bernarda belong to the Peña family, they are the grand daughters of El Pinini, who was as famous for his cantiñas as he was for his drunkenness. The Peña family is one of the biggest and most influential flamenco families, a tribe who’s roots spread from Utrera across to Lebrija and consist of names like El Perrate, Pedro Bacán, El Lebrijano and Miguel El Funi, to name only a few.



Fernanda and Bernarda de Utrera appear in this rare film footage as teenagers, singing por solea. Don't know who the guitarist is. Thank you Richard Black!





Thursday, January 12, 2012

ESTA GITANA NO SE PUEDE AGUANTA VIVA TU

María Dolores Amaya Vega, 
Remedios Amaya (Seville, 1962)

Extremadura family, was born on May 1, 1962 in the Triana district of Seville. Remedios started singing as a child in the tablaos of Seville. And as a young child was presented as a flamenco rock star by producers, never renouncing her roots. The singer is known as the Camarona de Triana, as it was said by muses of Camarón that Remedios was one of the artists who inspired the maestro de La Isla.

De familia extremeña, nació el 1 de mayo de 1962 en el barrio de Triana de Sevilla. Remedios Amaya comenzó a cantar siendo una niña en los tablaos de Sevilla. Y aunque en sus inicios fue presentada como estrella del flamenco rock por sus productores, nunca renunció a la ortodoxia. La cantaora es conocida como La Camarona de Triana, pues fue comadre y musa de Camarón y, según se dice, una de las artistas que más inspiró al maestro de La Isla.




With Diego Carrasco on guitar.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

My Paths Through Dance / Mis Caminos a Través de la Danza

Official trailer for documentary film on Mariemma "My Paths Through Dance". Written & Directed by Daniel G. Cabrero. ~ Trailer oficial de la película documental sobre Mariemma - "Mis caminos a través de la danza". Producida por Danseuse Films. Escrita y dirigida por Daniel G. Cabrero.
Mariemma is not a household name in Spain; although she should be.

That all may change in the near future as a Documentary about her life has just been produced and shown in her hometown of Iscar near Valladolid. At the age of 91 she passed away in 2008 leaving behind her a legacy in Spanish dance that shall live on for possibly the next 100-years or more! But unless you happen to be involved in the world of Spanish dance or have experienced the delights for yourself in major theatres of Madrid, Barcelona or Andalusia, then chances are good that you’ve never heard of her. {m
ás}

Mariemma, the late classical Spanish dancer renowned for her castanets, her sophisticated choreography and elevating the level of dancers’ technique throughout Spain, toured the world with her pianist and later her full company. This innovative documentary, with recreations, rare footage, and interviews, celebrates the artistry of Mariemma who continues in the tradition of classical Spanish dancer Argentina, Argentinita, and Pilar Lopez. Flamenco dancers Antonio Canales, Aída Gómez, Joaquín Cortés and Lola Greco, her protégées, appear in the film describe Mariemma’s invaluable contributions.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

JUAN EL LEBRIJANO-ENRIQUE DE MELCHOR-TANGOS-ROMANCE-SOLEÁ-BULERÍAS

Juan Peña Fernández, also known as Juan Peña "El Lebrijano" or simply El Lebrijano (born 1941) is a Spanish Gitano (Roma) musician, the nephew of Perrate de Utrera. Born at Lebrija, province of Seville, he began to play Spanish guitar as a child, accompanying dancers like La Paquera de Jerez, but eventually turned to Flamenco singing. In 1964, he won the championship at the Competition of Mairena del Alcor, one of the most important Flamenco music festivals. A few years later, in 1970, he started his collaboration with famous guitarist Paco de Lucía. His most recent musical works include Andalusi influences, with albums such as Casablanca, Open Doors and Encuentros. In 1997 the Spanish Ministry of Culture awarded him the Medalla de Oro al Trabajo.

Enrique de Melchor -- When my father worked at "Los Canasteros" there was a guy there that played really well, called "El Nani". We all knew him. When I saw him I was really impressed with his playing. He asked me, "Aren't you going to play like your father?". I just played a little, practically nothing. So I said, "I don't know. I'm studying." So he showed me a falseta and I was hooked. I told my father that I wanted to play and I stayed in Madrid and I stayed at a boarding house where he stayed and I started to study. At that time I was playing with the house musicians, but behind the set, behind the curtains, so Caracol says to me "Are you ready to play?", and I went red. I wanted to die, and I said that I was, so he says, "Well get yourself a suit, tomorrow's your debut." I was about fifteen...{más}


Another amazing video - Lebrijano with Paco Cepero!!!


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Taraf de Haidouks - On the road (WATCH!)

Some of the best Romanian/Romany musicians Taraf de Haidouks.

Since the release of its first album back in 1991, Taraf de Haïdouks has been considered the epitome of Romany music's vitality. The group has toured worldwide, released acclaimed albums and a DVD (see below), and counts among its fans the late Yehudi Menuhin, the Kronos Quartet (with whom it has recorded and performed), actor Johnny Depp (alongside whom the group appeared in the film The Man Who Cried), fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto (who invited the band to be models-cum-musicians for hisParis and Tokyo shows), and many more. Meanwhile, the band members seem to have been relatively unaffected by all this, maintaining their way of life (they still reside in Clejani, in the Valachian countryside).

The band's latest release is the Maskarada album, in which they reinterpret and "re-gypsify" pieces by 20th-century classical composers (such as Bartok, Khachaturian and others) who drew inspiration from national folklore and often borrowed from Roma styles.





And not to be missed!

Ko to tamo peva


Ko to tamo pevaClip from "Ko to tamo peva"
"Who's That Singing Over There?"
A Film by Slobodan Sijan

Manuel el Titi

OMGosh! Where did they find her Carmen la del Titi. I am rolling!!!!
Also featuring Manolo Brenes on guitar, from the 1972 Rito y Geografia del cante flamenco Series.