TRIBUTE TO PARRILLA DE JEREZ. SPECIAL FEATURE

A historic night

Carlos Sánchez. Jerez, June 11th, 2005

The town of Jerez wanted to pay tribute to the figure of Manuel Fernández Molina ‘Parrilla de Jerez’, the Jerez-born guitarist who is currently recovering from serious illness. Over six thousand people packed the bullring of the city of wine, horses and good flamenco. The occasion called for it. The flamenco community also wanted to support the artist from Jerez. An endless number of artists gathered in a tribute that went on for over five hours. José Mercé, Niña Pastori, El Lebrijano, Manuel Molina and Paco Cepero, among others, shaped up a unique bill, a magical night full of emotional moments.

Night began to fall up the street. Little by little, a human trickle started to take over the tiers of the Jerez de la Frontera bullring. Everything is ready and set to pay tribute to one of the Jerez guitar greats: Manuel Fernández Molina ‘Parrilla de Jerez’, bearer of that special rhythm which defines the toque of this land blessed with flamenco. Ten thirty at night. Ángel Vargas, José Gálvez, Pepe de la Joaquina, Diego de la Margara, Ramón Trujillo, Juan Parrilla, Antonio Higuero, Macano and Chícharo make up the ‘Jerez Courtyard’. Party style. No better way than to kick off with home-style bulerías. A good start.

The guitar's turn. Toque with a special flavor. The music is sensed from afar. A great native artist. Paco Cepero. Tanguillos and rumbas accompanied by the young guitars of José Ignacio Franco, Miguel Salado and Carlos Merino's percussion. The night goes on, led by critic José María Castaño and the undersigned. The backstage is overflowing. There's a traffic jam of artists in the dressing rooms. They all wanted to be there, giving their support to Uncle Manuel. From Jerez to Lebrija. Curro Malena with Manuel Parrilla on guitar. Seguiriyas and bulerías. From Lebrija to Santiago, a Jerez flamenco neighborhood. One of the female voices from the land of wine. With an echo and a trademark soaked up in flamencura. Gushing. Tomasa Guerrero ‘La Macanita’ was not to be missing here. The Jerez-born artist has shared many moments with Parrilla de Jerez. Soleá and bulerías. There's no time for more.

Once again Lebrija, a town twinned with Jerez. Juan Peña ‘El Lebrijano’ displays touches of his art. The night thunders. Soleá through bulerías and bulerías to the sound of his land. From this Sevillian town to another in Cádiz, Chiclana. A classic of the pure and the orthodox. A black, torn voice. A cantaor, Alonso Núñez ‘Rancapino’. On toque, Fernando Moreno. Alegrías and bulerías. The rhythm doesn't fall off for even a moment. The bullring is chock full. It's the turn of the poet of inexpressible cante. Of weeping turned into verse. Last name, Molina. First name, Manuel. Parrilla de Jerez's cousin. He dazzled the crowd with that so peculiar and heart-felt way of evoking art, reciting each and every word of his lyrics with unquestionable devotion. It only took him a few minutes to have the Jerez audience eating out of his hands. The first part of the night reaches its end. A main attraction. The most universal artist from Jerez. José Mercé also wanted to be there in a historic tribute that will remain in the memory of good flamenco enthusiasts for the rest of their lives. Putting together a bill of this nature is a “nearly” impossible mission. The Jerez-born cantaor, with his inseparable Manuel Moreno Junquera ‘Moraíto Chico’, enraptured the crowd with soleá and bulerías. The bull has now been killed.

	Parrilla de Jerez por bulerías en Mont de Marsan 2004 (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Following the break. One of the flamenco cantaor families par excellence from the land of art. ‘Los Agujetas’. They weren't all there, but they did have a large representation. Bearers of old-fashioned, rough, gutsy cante. Dolores Agujetas began. She was accompanied by her son Diego, just fifteen years old. Jerez is an endless source. Diego and Paco Agujetas finished off the job. ‘From Santiago to La Plazuela’. Enrique and Luis El Zambo, Mijita Jr., Fernando de la Morena, Diego de los Santos ‘Rubichi’, Juan Zarzuela, Lorenzo Gálvez Ripol, Paloma and Rocío Parrilla, Isaac Moreno, Domingo Rubichi and Diego del Morao. A work of art. Through bulerías. Cante and baile. Today is an important day. The devotion is utmost. Everyone wants to be there and take part. The Sevillian comic duo Los Morancos from Triana also made their contribution with that humor and that wit which set them apart. The comedians took a stab at their respective “little kicks” through bulerías.

Niña Pastori, too

Full harmony on stage. It's time for another great universal artist. From La Isla de San Fernando. Cañaílla. Everything she touches turns to gold. Five albums, five big hits. She also wanted to support Parrilla de Jerez. “Soñar, soñar /para que quiero yo soñar/ si mi sueño es imposible” (“To dream, to dream /why do I want to dream/ if my dream is impossible”). That's how Niña Pastori started off through bulerías. The Cádiz-born artist was accompanied by Diego del Morao on toque, Chaboli and Luis de Periquín on percussion, and “La tropa santiaguera” (“Santiago Troop”) on rhythm. Cante and toque so far.

Baile couldn't be missing. It was time. Mercedes Ruiz and her group trod the boards of the huge stage set up in the bullring. Through romance. The festival heads into the final stretch with a cajoling mixture. A combination of music, baile and horses. A cocktail of great plastic and esthetic beauty. ‘Rocayisa’ tangos by Moraíto Chico for Carmen Herrera's baile with a special guest, the horse. The bullring on its feet. A huge ovation. Good things can't last forever. It's time to put the icing on the cake. It's the new talents of the Jerez breeding ground. With a special sponsor, Diego Carrasco. New flamenco conceptions. With the native rhythm. José Caraoscura, Navajita Plateá and Tomasito put the final touch on a night that will be treasured in the flamenco history of Jerez de la Frontera. This one's for you, ‘Parrilla de Jerez’.

magazine@flamenco-world.com