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DIEGO EL CIGALA. PRESENTATION OF 'PICASSO EN MIS OJOS'
Mr. Diego el Cigala
Silvia Calado. Madrid, September 13th,
2005
'Picasso en mis ojos' ('Picasso in My Eyes'). Diego
el Cigala, cante. Manuel Parrilla and Paquete, guitars.
Piraña and Sabú, percussion. Yelsi Heredia,
contrabass. Yumitu, piano. Hotel Westin Palace. Madrid, September
13th, 2005. 9 p.m.
The new album by Diego el Cigala called for a chic presentation.
Eight hundred thousand copies sold of his previous record
meant a real milestone... and real responsibility. So did
dedicating his new project to Picasso. And what less than
the choice of a luxurious setting - none other than Madrid's
Hotel Palace - for the introduction of this album with which
the Madrilenian cantaor hopes to lure new audiences to flamenco.
The presentation was conceived more for VIP guests than for
the greater public, though it was no less warm because of
it. The artist is brimming over, and that rubs off on everyone
gathered under the huge glass dome of a hotel meeting room.
He had the same devotion in the musicians, cozily positioned
on the small stage ready for the showcase. A witty speech
by comedian El Gran Wyoming preceded the music, granting El
Cigala the Spanish 'prefix' Don (or Mr.), "like Don Antonio
Chacón, who thus eliminated the competition and became
king of the stage".
Photo: Daniel Muñoz
Well then, Don Diego el Cigala made his appearance, most
elegantly attired, backed by a warm applause, a devoted band
and a tight-knit cluster of photographers. He started off
with the alegrías 'Malagueño' and went on to
'Chanelando', tangos he had already presented to audiences
at the 2005
Festival de Mont de Marsan. An intelligent repertoire
for a crowd whose credentials were better not required. A
smile goes along with the voice collecting itself for 'La
paloma'. Alberti and Picasso fly together to the fandango
beat. The show moves on with that stylized track beginning
with the verse "pintaba Picasso" ("Picasso
used to paint..."). The bulería appears, and shining
over it with astounding naturalness is that deep voice of
the man from Cascorro (a square in Madrid). Musical cante.
A musician's quejío.
A brief moment to give thanks, to point out that "everybody's
put their soul into it" and to announce a guest even
more luxurious than the venue itself: Raimundo
Amador. Tremendous flamenco rock to spice up that Cuban
rumba entitled 'Apenao'. Time to dance! And Ramón el
Portugués, who is in the crowd, dotes on his son Sabú's
box drum solo, the feel of the beat by his son Piraña,
the great work live and at the studio by his son Paquete.
What a family. Diego el Cigala enjoys himself... a few hours
before taking a flight to London, where he will take part
in the ¡Flamenco! gala at Royal Albert Hall to raise
funds for "Save the Children", and just a few days
before starting his crowded tour of Latin America. 'Picasso
en mis ojos' has only just begun.
Photos: Daniel Muñoz
magazine@flamenco-world.com
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