Flamenco defends its nominations for the 2003 Latin Grammy
José Mercé, Diego el Cigala,
Serranito, Pepe de Lucía, Carmen Linares, Gerardo Núñez and Ketama take part in
an act at SGAE Madrid
Martín Guijarro. Madrid, August 27th, 2003 Translation: Joseph Kopec armen
Jiménez, August 2003
"Flamenco is going to win". Solomonic,
Pepe de Lucía hit the nail on the head. And Carmen Linares redounded to it: "It's
a matter of pride that flamenco has its own category in the Latin Grammy Awards
because, I have to say it, it's the best music in the world". The seven artists
of the genre who opt for the gramophone this year gathered, together with the
rest of the nominees of the 'Spanish Music Academy', under the big top set up
at the headquarters of the General Society of Spanish Authors and Publishers (SGAE).
And there, before a packed front of camera people, they defended their nominations
one by one. On September 3rd, 2003 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, flamenco
will be one of the victors.
Nominees Latin Grammy 2003 (Photo: PRS)
Madrilenian guitarist Serranito,
who was introduced as a "flamenco legend", is competing for the award with 'Sueños
de ida y vuelta', an album which is an "initiative of the label Autor consisting
of a fusion between the most flamenco guitar and Cuban song, orchestrated by Camerata
Romeu". Víctor Monge joked, saying that he was "giving competition to Ketama",
a group making its bid in the 'best pop vocal album' category. And Antonio Carmona,
when taking the microphone, did not hesitate in wishing "I hope my colleague Serranito
wins it, he's a monster".
"I'd like all my colleagues to win the Grammy because they're marvelous competitors,
all geniuses, but if I get it myself it would be kick-ass". That is how sincere
José
Mercéwas, taking his album 'Lío' to Miami. The Jerez-born cantaor explained
that his bid is, given that "in this great art everything has been invented, to
refresh flamenco with new lyrics so that young people get it".
Diego
el
Cigala, who has been chosen for his live recording together with Niño Josele
at Madrid's Royal Theater, affirmed "welcome be the nomination", but elaborated
that "topping the list in the flamenco section is a tall order". And he finished
by wishing all his colleagues good luck: "We'll see what happens". As for Pepe
de Lucía, he ventured that "if they gave it to me, I'd consider it
a lifetime achievement award for my career, which started when I was twelve along
with my brother Paco". However, he pointed out that the important thing is that
"flamenco has come this far, which is a sign of respect for this art, loved more
and more throughout the world for being ethnic music, made from the roots and
from feeling".
"Not everything has been invented"
Gerardo Núñez, Carmen Linares, Ketama
and Serranito
(Photo: PRS)
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"The Lady of Flamenco", Carmen
Linares, did not conceal her pride for "the fact that there are so many flamenco
artists opting for this recognition". The Jaén-born cantaora aspires to a Latin
music award for 'Un ramito de locura', "a flamenco album for whose creation I've
had the luck of having Gerardo Núñez for a travel partner, since he's a very open
musician who's contributed new harmonies and a lot of hopefulness. Besides, I
have songs by Pepe de Lucía, which have given it a modern spark that... 'hummmmm',
rejuvenates me". But Gerardo
Núñez was there for another matter. The Jerez-born guitarist,
the only flamenco artist with two nominations, is nominated for 'La Nueva Escuela
de la Guitarra Flamenca' ('The New School of Flamenco Guitar'), an album on which
he performs as the mentor of future toque talents. "Unlike my colleagues, I think
that not everything has been invented in flamenco. Till now flamenco guitar has
been at about ten percent of its possibilities and now that we have technique,
rhythm and money, the great works are yet to come. The future lies in young people
and I felt the need to do something for them". And to a great extent, for being
aware of the difficulties: "It's hard for us to get by because flamenco guitar
is not profitable in the record business". For all of it, he said he feels "very
happy".
Flamenco guitar is also represented in these nominations by Frenchman Juan
Carmona, with his record 'Orillas', the only one absent from the flamenco
section at this act which was not without controversy. SGAE takes to the third
edition of the Latin Grammy Awards the Cuban group Orishas, which will probably
not be able to go to Miami for political reasons. And its leader, Yotuel Romero,
uttered a brief but forceful speech in defense "of musical fusion and racial fusion",
precisely the chemistry which gave rise to flamenco art.
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