The Jerez-born guitarist is scheduled to release his first album in autumn

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

Flamenco guitar digs up another uncut diamond from its mines. Jerez-born guitarist Juan Diego has spent the summer in the recording studio to create his first solo album which he is scheduled to release in autumn 2003. Artists he usually accompanies such as Remedios Amaya, Jorge Pardo and Diego Carrasco have collaborated on this record mainly consisting of his own compositions arranged by Antonio Soteldo, Musiquita. Juan Diego considers this album his "ID card" for the solo career he is about to undertake.

Juan Diego with Diego Carrasco

Juan Diego advances from the rearguard. The Jerez-born guitarist, a usual accompanist of top cante figures and composer of the music of no few dance shows, will have his first album out on the market this autumn. The record he débuts with has been recorded between the studios El Bola in Seville and Bujío in Cádiz during June, July and August 2003. Juan Diego, the album's executive co-producer, has put on the table an abundant repertoire of his own compositions as well as a few by others, brightened up by the arrangements of Venezuelan Antonio Soteldo, Musiquita, and produced by Dr. Kelly. The record has, among other cuts, an orchestrated rondeña, a soleá, sevillanas with the bass of Carles Benavent evoking the colombianas 'Monasterio de sal' by Paco de Lucía, a rumba written by Musiquita and even a rap sung by Tomasito telling the story of the recording. The lyrics are by El Madriles.

Filing through the studio were cantaores and musicians usually accompanied by the guitarist from Jerez. Standing out among them is Remedios Amaya, the Sevillian cantaora who does without his accompaniment neither live nor at the studio, as can be seen on the album 'Sonsonete'. With her was her daughter Samara, who makes her first recording on this album. Also wanting to make his contribution is singer, cantaor, composer and guitarist Diego Carrasco, with whom he has recorded and played live on countless occasions. Nor missing the chance to collaborate was saxophonist Jorge Pardo, who has also enjoyed his toque on some of his recordings.

No giving in

Juan Diego believes this record is going to be his "ID card", his pass into a solo career some experts foresee as brilliant. Even so, the guitarist says he has taken absolute liberty as a principle: "We've recorded what we felt like, without giving in to commercial considerations". And it may well have been that lack of strings attached which favored, as Dr. Kelly points out, "moments of absolute magic" at the studio.

Juan Diego with Jorge Pardo