4th FLAMENCO GUITAR IN CONCERT FESTIVAL. GERARDO NÚÑEZ.
PEPE HABICHUELA & JOSEMI CARMONA. SERRANITO

Three worlds and then some

S.C. Madrid, October 2005

4th Flamenco Guitar in Concert Festival. Gerardo Núñez. Pepe Habichuela & Josemi Carmona. Víctor Monge ‘Serranito’. San Juan Evangelista Student Residence Hall. Madrid, October 21st to 23rd, 2005

Gerardo Núñez (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Madrid's San Juan Evangelista Student Residence Hall has been filling its assembly hall with the best in flamenco and international jazz for thirty-five years now. Besides the Flamenco por Tarantos Festival it holds annually, this year it has decided to take up the Flamenco Guitar in Concert Festival where it left off ten years ago in its last edition. And it didn't skimp on the artists. The three guitarists on the bill represent the solidity and restlessness of the last three decades, with room to point out toque's outlook for the future and for something more.

	Carmen Cortés (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Gerardo Núñez was the first to appear on the night of Friday, October 21st. He came accompanied by the members of his trio; contrabass player Pablo Martín and percussionist Cepillo, plus Jerez-born cantaor Jesús Méndez, and bailaora Carmen Cortés as special guest. The guitarist commanded the live show of his latest album, ‘Andando el tiempo’, with the ferocity of he who starts off and enjoys himself, measuring things out. In full possession of his technical and creative faculties, he knows how to dish out the virtuosity and soul of his creations in just the right proportions. You have to let yourself go to his world. And so much personality doesn't take away an ounce of generosity with his own. Gerardo Núñez's involvement with young toque talents is going to provide as its new fruit the first album by Jesús de Rosario. And the Cañorroto-born artist was there as a guest to present two of his songs. But he is not only generous with those who play the sonanta. He gave up the edge of the stage to Jesús Méndez, who brings the broad echo of his aunt La Paquera, for him to sing carceleras. And the thing is that he has radar for new talents in this art... And no less skill to shake up spectators live, with moments that are intense, intelligent, sweet, fun and very, very flamenco. Carmen Cortés, by the way, made the night hers through soleá.

The second night of the series could be branded as special. And not just because it was Pepe Habichuela's birthday, which was celebrated in a very family-style grand finale, with three generations of Habichuelas as one. But because of what it means for a father and son to share a musical experience. Josemi Carmona says that working with his father is the shield he is using in this new solo period, after the break-up of Ketama. But it's not only that. The son shows his songs. The father, his. And afterwards they start to converse with their respective guitars and their respective ways of understanding music, inviting artists on stage such as young bailaor David Paniagua. In common? Sweetness. Next, each contributes his own. Pepe Habichuela is a journey on the back of a guitar. From alegrías to the taranta sung by his nephew Pepe Luis Carmona, leading to that trance called ‘Yerbagüena’. Josemi Carmona has found a route of his own for instrumental flamenco, a modern sound blending with the tradition inherited from his clan. He only uses the percussion of musicians like Bandolero as all the accompaniment of this new music which will soon come out on an album he has been preparing for several months with contrabass player Carles Benavent. The showing of the film ‘Herencia flamenca’ (‘Flamenco Legacy’) before the performance put the crowd in the picture, among which was the distinguished Minister of the Interior, José Antonio Alonso, a student of Pepe Habichuela's.

Josemi Carmona (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Habichuela's Fin de fiesta (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Víctor Monge ‘Serranito’ was in charge of closing the series with a new show. ‘Concierto con solera. La noche de las tres lunas’ is a musical cross between Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures. And to find those three nuances which, in short, blend together into flamenco, the veteran guitarist has himself accompanied by a varied group of musicians. Javier Paxariño on ethnic instruments such as the kaval, ney and Turkish clarinet, Moisés Sánchez on keyboard, Julián Vaquero on bass and guitar, Rafael Morales on guitar and Víctor M. Barrios on percussion, plus the echo of cantaora Eva Durán, join the sonanta of Serranito, back after exploring flamenco's Latin American ties.

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