VI FESTIVAL DE JEREZ
BERNARDO PARRILLA QUINTET

Chemistry session

Silvia Calado Olivo. Jerez, 27th February 2002

Bernardo Parrilla: violin. Juan Parrilla: flute. Ramón Jiménez: guitar. Fernando Anguita: bass guitar. Luqui Losada: percussion. Palacio de Villavicencio. Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), March 1st, 2002. 7:00 p.m.

Bernardo Parrilla y Ramón Jiménez (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

A violin + a flute + a bass guitar + a guitar + a cajón = flamenco. This formula, without exactly being worthy of Einstein, brought relativity to the constrictions of orthodox flamenco in an evening of music to delight the great walls of the Jerez Alcázar. Responsible for this happening, a group of daring souls who pushed the possibilities of jondo flamenco to heroic extremes, putting chemistry above tradition: Bernardo Parrilla, on the violin; Juan Parrilla, on flute; Ramón Jiménez, guitar; Fernando Anguita, bass guitar; and Luqui Losada, on the percussion. With the flute giving voice to the normally sung melodies, the quintet began filling its test tube with notes reminiscent of rondeña. The mixture sounded of calm. A lively dialogue between the flute and the percussion brought not only cheers of 'ole', but bubbles to the test tube as well. The flute sang, devilishly. The concoction was smoothed out with tangos, compacted, connected. All is one. Then, on the spot, back to bulerías which "we want to dedicate to our parents". Guitar + cajón. A little more violin, Bernardo…it's impossible to sound more flamenco. The bow takes charge and stirs the mixture, the flute wants to be heard, the cajón wants to support…they don't want to see you alone in soleá. And why not something with a touch of the exotic? "It's like an Argentine tango, but also a flamenco tango, after so much traveling around you go crazy" says the piper of Hamelin. They spice the fusion with rhythm and sway, with tension, with the good taste to make it all come out right, without mincing words. "A one, a two, a three and…", tanguillos. The test tube is already bubbling. Oh, just a bit too much percussion. The formula is almost ready. Mmmmmmm. Flamenco.

Juan Parrilla (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)