José Galván recreates the world of
'tablaos' on a new DVD 'La noche flamenca'

The show features 'bailaora' Pastora Galván,
'cantaor' José Anillo and guitarist El Bola

Flamenco-world.com

Spain's economic recovery during the final years of Franco's dictatorship spurred an opening of its frontiers with the outside world, which in turn led to an incipient boom in tourism. The 'tablaos' responded to the visitors' demand for popular tradition in the fifties and sixties, these small flamenco venues emulating the old-fashioned 'cafés cantantes'. Their musical offerings were tuned to the demands of these uninitiated audiences, and whilst they were perhaps lacking in substance, at the same time the tablao circuit became a quintessential training ground for anyone who wanted to make it in flamenco. José Galván, one of the bastions of the Seville school of dance, underwent this training at tablaos in Seville, such as 'El Patio Andaluz' or 'Los Gallos'. And he commemorates that era on this DVD released on the OFS label from Seville (creators of the 'Sólo compás' series), showing "a typical night at any one of those tablaos".

The father of 'bailaor' Israel Galván describes the show featured on the DVD as "representing the most traditional flamenco on Earth, containing 'jaleos' which were essential because the cheers of encouragement injected space into a performance, allowing a shift in tempo from the previous movement. Back then you could see the real cornerstones of flamenco - charm, grace and spontaneity - there wasn't the obsession with technique you see today." In fact, between each of the dance numbers that make up the repertoire of 'La noche flamenca' (Flamenco night) there's a brief interlude 'por jaleos', featuring group singing, 'palmas' marking time, or short flamenco skits. And after these appetisers come sevillanas, tientos, soleá 'por bulerías', siguiriyas, alegrías and bulerías.

The show features Galván directing his daughter Pastora Galván, who won the Matilde Coral Award at Cordoba's 'Concurso Nacional de Arte Flamenco', giving solo performances to tientos and alegrías; it also features Ana Japón and Juan Amaya 'El Pelón', both dancing soleares 'por bulerías'. The other artists featured on the recording are 'bailaoras' Carmen Reina, Zoraida Ortega and Mercedes, on vocals 'cantaores' Juan José Amador and José Anillo; and guitarists Rafael Rodríguez and José Quevedo 'El Bola'.

Cantes

The video, whose accompanying booklet contains the lyrics to the thirteen songs, features a prologue where José Galván sketches out the history of 'tablaos', and what went on in them. And after that it's straight over to OFS's Sólo Compás studios in Seville, the music starts 'por sevillanas' and the flamenco night begins, a night on which both 'jamón' and 'jerez' are in plentiful supply.

revista@flamenco-world.com