Jerónimo, Jorge Pardo and Carles Benavent collaborate with the vocalist from Madrid

S.C.O., December 2003
Photos: Daniel Muñoz

Bullfighting and flamenco renew their ties. Paco del Pozo steps into the bullring with 'Vestido de luces'. The Madrid cantaor's recording début pays homage to the bullfight, and in particular to the saga of the legendary Ordóñez family of bullfighters. To this aim he makes use of the poetry of Gerardo Diego, Antonio Murciano, Aquilino Duque and Ángel Peralta, among others. Soleares, bulerías, seguiriyas, rumbas, tangos, alegrías, malagueñas, sevillanas, cantes mineros... A broad range of styles are tackled here by the winner of the Festival de las Minas 1997 Miner's lamp award. Félix Grande has already voiced his premonition: "This disc is destined to be a classic, never before has there been a tribute to bullfighting like this one."

	Paco del Pozo

Those hosting the launch of 'Vestido de luces' (the name given to a bullfighter's costume) at Madrid's Calle 54 club on December 12th 2003 were full of praise. The writer commented that "to make a worthy vocal performance requires much more wisdom than keeping in time, and Paco del Pozo shows us just that." He added, "it takes knowledge of the musical rhythm and intelligence to put the stress in the right place without altering the words of the poems - poems that weren't written with cante flamenco in mind." Very high standards, self-discipline, youth and commitment were just some of the words Félix Grande used in reference to the cantaor, whom "I never saw holding back - he throws himself headlong into combat with the history of flamenco, whoever the audience. He struggles to serve music, and keeps a firm grasp on the roots of flamenco."

Jerónimo Maya, the guitarist who accompanies the cantaor throughout the disc, and who wrote the music for tracks like the rumba 'Vestido de luces', also had a word to say. The 'tocaor', whose first disc is scheduled for release in February, commented that this is "an album that's been made with loving care and sincerity, and on which the great friendship that unites us shines through." Jerónimo added that Paco del Pozo "is one of the leading cantaores out there right now and is also a marvelous person; it doesn't matter what race or color you are, what matters is that you have a soul, and his soul is flamenco to the core. Sometimes I cuss him for being more flamenco than I am. He loves flamenco and he isn't afraid to show it."

Creativity

As for the spokesman for Escuela de Música Creativa present at the launch, he highlighted the commitment of this entity, which co-produced the project, to musical creativity, and in this case to flamenco. The bullfighting critic also seated at the table highlighted the fact that "bullfighting and flamenco are two contributions to world culture, and it isn't at all difficult to combine the two, since they always did share a common denominator of passion."

And last to speak was Paco del Pozo, who declared himself "humbled" by such praise. The cantaor himself thanked all of the people and entities involved in the project which, according to him, "was a true battle on all fronts: musical, artistic and financial. And I say that proudly, because I fought for something that was mine." He reminded those present that the idea originated from La Venencia Cultural Wing at the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo, "who proposed the idea of me singing some bullfighting poems, originally for an amateur recording. Being my first disc, I wanted to do things more carefully, so I approached Jerónimo out of bare-faced cheek, and he accepted." In the end, the label Harmonia Mundi stepped up, as did legendary musicians like Jorge Pardo, who besides playing sax and flute on many of the album's tracks, composed the music for the tangos 'Romance de Antonio Ordóñez en la feria de Sevilla' and for the bulería 'Plaza de Ronda'. Also participating on the album are, among others, Carles Benavent on bass; Felipe Maya, Leo de Aurora and Pepe Núñez on guitar; Lucky Losada and Chiqui Maya on percussion; and Araceli and Samara Losada whose voices provide the 'coros'.

And as the last words were spoken, so the music began. Paco del Pozo offered a short taster of the disc, with Fernando Bravo taking the place of Jorge Pardo; and with Yago Salorio in place of Carles Benavent. The cante with an air of classicism, but seeking to move forward. The guitar, brilliant, communicative. From Seville to Ronda, from bulls to 'toreros'.

Paco del Pozo with Jerónimo

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