VI FESTIVAL DE JEREZ
ISRAEL GALVÁN & GERARDO NÚÑEZ
ANDRÉS MARÍN & RAFAEL CAMPALLO: MANO A MANO (HAND IN HAND)

Trangression. Metal. Precaution

Silvia Calado Olivo. Jerez, 4th March 2002

Credits. PART I. Israel Galván: dance. Gerardo Núñez: guitar. Juan José Amador: cante (vocals). Pablo Martín: double bass. Cepillo: percussion. PART II: MANO A MANO. Andrés Marín and Rafael Campallo: dance. Londro, José Anillo and Encarna Anillo: cante (vocals). Juan Requena, Eugenio Iglesias, Canito: toque (guitar). Alejandro Garrido: viola. Juanmi Guzmán: double bass. Theatre: Teatro Villamarta. Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz province), 4th March 2002. 9pm.

One. Transgression. The Israel Galván and Gerardo Núñez trio. The task of trying to guess styles or 'palos' loses all meaning: something that sounds like a rondeña, something else that smells of seguiriyas, something else of soleá. The songs blend into one: the bassist and percusssionist join the guitar halfway. Dance comes in, vocals drop out, Gerardo's playing solo. The barriers between genres melt: a jazz format, a Flamenco essence, taking turns within the group, individuality within the whole.

A bow scurrying around the double bass. And Galván scurrying too, like an insect: a leg, a wing, antennae. The six strings become intertwined. Trapeze. Fire not fireworks. A cajón box-drum in the background, here and there, leading. The tap-tap-tap of Israel. Tapping again, twisting, twisting again. Constructing/destroying harmonies painted on the trio's harmonic canvas. They communicate, they reach an agreement. So where does the music come from, bailaor? Pure, unadulterated dance over pure, unadulterated 'cante' vocals. Where does the music come from, Amador? You know instinctively, but it isn't enough for you, any of you. You have to know instinctively if you want to transgress.

Two. Metal. Andrés Marín. You're not performing alone, but you could be. There's someone there to compare yourself with, and that just makes you all the more distinctive. The sound you make is one of machinery, of metal. Inert, cold, pointed. Technical to the extreme. Precise, true. Seguiriya suits you, with your solemn presence. You're not performing alone, but you should... although direct comparison makes you stand out. They brand you futuristic, but here you are in the present. More unique than transgressive. More personal than transgressive.

Three. Precaution. Rafael Campallo. You allowed yourself to be a point of reference, so people knew where the baseline was. You're the past returned to the present. That's how they brand you. Those same old alegrías. That simulated fall, playing it cool and eliciting an "ole" or two from the crowd, a "guapo" (handsome!) or two, a "monstruo" (idol) or two. No transgression, no risks. By the book. Flawless. Predictable.

More information: Interview with Andrés Marín (March 2001) Interview with Rafael Campallo (January 2001)