The saxophonist creates the new group La Fábrica de Tonadas with Chano Domínguez, Javier Colina, Marc Miralta, Jordi Bonell and Santiago Aurserón

Flamenco-world.com, June 2003
Photos: Daniel Muñoz

About six years ago Jorge Pardo, Carles Benavent and Alex Acuña - filling in for Tino di Geraldo - played at the emblematic New York jazz club Village Vanguard. And it was there that Pat Metheny, who had already seen them with Paco de Lucía and at the occasional festival, sealed his enthusiasm for trio music. Taking advantage of the fact that he is going to be a resident musician at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, the guitarist from Kansas City has invited the flamenco jazz band to take part in the concert he will offer at the Mendizarroza Sports Center on July 18th, 2003. But with one peculiarity. Jorge Pardo explains that "he wants to play our music, he wants to come closer... and that's significant".

Jorge Pardo, Tino di Geraldo, Carles Benavent

Carles Benavent and Tino di Geraldo

Although it will be a special stopover, the Madrilenian saxophonist is not limiting his summer activity to the Basque festival. Jorge Pardo's summer tour is taking shape as colorful due to the different groups he will take part in, as well as the diversity of the stages. Standing out as a novelty is his participation in the group La Fábrica de Tonadas, an initiative by the magazine 'Cuadernos de Jazz' which other musicians of flamenco heterodoxy are involved in such as pianist Chano Domínguez - who also performs at the Vitoria Festival on July 15th -, contrabassist Javier Colina and percussionist Marc Miralta; jazz musicians such as guitarist Jordi Bonell; and pop singer Santiago Aurserón. Jorge Pardo comments that the group, which will perform at the Galapajazz Festival in Madrid, in the Granada town of Almuñécar and at the San Sebastián Jazz Festival, "is trying to look back over Spanish pop music in the last thirty years". And he adds that "Santiago is going to capitalize with the consent of everyone, but each one will put the original music he knows how to do on the table... including what tends to be towards flamenco".

The close relationship that the saxophonist and flute player has built with Iñaki Salvador is also noteworthy. He will play along with the jazz pianist on such peculiar stages as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao; and he will present the live album which was recorded at the Club Altxerri in San Sebastián. Added to that are the concerts with the trio he makes with Carles Benavent and Tino di Geraldo, which will converse with Lebrija-born pianist Dorantes in Granada, as they already did months ago at Seville's Central Theater; and with D'3, a jazz band he shares with Francis Pose and José Vázquez 'Roper'. For the summer festival's finishing touch, Jorge Pardo will be one of the many flamenco and Spanish jazz musicians who will contribute to supporting percussionist José Antonio Galicia, retired from stages because of a serious illness, at the festival which will take place at the Patio del Conde Duque in Madrid on September 3rd, within the framework of the Veranos de la Villa series.

JORGE PARDO TOUR. SUMMER 2003