Percussionist Paquito González
releases a flamenco box drum method on DVD

Vicente Amigo, Miguel Poveda, Joaquín Grilo and Marina Heredia, among other artists, take part in the didactic double DVD

Flamenco-world.com, August 2009

Since he made his début together with Manolo Sanlúcar, Paquito González has become one of the most sought-after percussionists of today’s flamenco. And now he has decided to share his knowledge with students from all over the world. That is the mission of his audiovisual method ‘El cajón flamenco’ (‘Flamenco Box Drum’) which is released with subtitles in five languages and a manual with over one hundred scores of the exercises to study. The lessons contained on the double DVD explain theory, technique and solos to the sound of some ten different styles. As a complement, the course - with a running time of over two hours - includes a documentary with samples of accompaniment for artists of the likes of guitarist Vicente Amigo, cantaores Marina Heredia and Miguel Poveda, and bailaor Joaquín Grilo, and even a chapter devoted to box drum amplifying.

Frames from DVD 'El cajón flamenco de Paquito González'

Soleá, bulerías, alegrías, seguiriyas, tangos, sevillanas… and so on up to eleven styles are what percussion maestro Paquito González studies in his audiovisual course ‘El cajón flamenco’, with a running time of over two hours. The method on two DVDs - released in multi-system compatible with every zone - is based on “clear, summarized explanations” by the instructor, a percussionist who is usually a member of Vicente Amigo’s live shows and the group Ultra High Flamenco.

The contents are split into theory, technique, accompaniments and solos, all of it with the instructor’s explanations translated into six languages (Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Japanese). To make it easier to understand the exercises and techniques, the practice examples can be viewed in general shots and in close-ups of the hands on screen. Moreover, the double DVD comes with a 27-page paper manual with the scores of every exercise - there are over one hundred twenty -, as well as the lyrics to the cantes and the biographies of the participating artists.

Carmen Grilo, José Quevedo 'Bolita', Joaquín Grilo and Marina Heredia
on DVD 'El cajón flamenco de Paquito González'

DVD 1 kicks off with a section devoted to technique, which takes a close look at the different strokes (basic, low, high…) and their combinations. The second section is ‘El compás de 12 tiempos’ (‘Compás in 12 time’), the most characteristic one in flamenco which affects the bulería, soleá and soleá por bulería. The third section then speaks at length about playing the box drum and the rhythm patterns of all the other varieties of styles, among others, seguiriyas and alegrías. Finally, it is completed with a block entitled ‘Variaciones para cajón’ (‘Variations for Box Drum’), also structured for the different flamenco styles.

And with DVD 2, it is time to learn how to put what has been learned into practice. To show how the flamenco box drum takes part in a group, the instructor has himself accompanied by guitarist José Quevedo ‘Bolita’, cantaora Carmen Grilo, bailaor Joaquín Grilo, and clappers Carlos Grilo and Luis Cantarote ‘Lúa’. Together with them, he works on a broad selection of styles which can be studied both in a general shot and in close-ups focusing just on the box drum. The extra features are very juicy. With a documentary look, the camera accompanies Paquito González on a trip around Andalusia in search of encounters with the prestigious musicians he usually works with; it is entitled ‘La vueltecita’ (‘The Little Spin’). In Córdoba, he visits the studio of Vicente Amigo, who besides playing one of the songs on his latest album, states that “the box drum has become a nearly essential instrument in flamenco; the wood sounds out a lot, which has a lot to do with guitar and with flamenco”. He appears in Granada to play for Marina Heredia, at a joint in Jerez for Miguel Poveda and in the countryside for guitarist José Quevedo. Another chapter in these extra features is the face-off with Puerto Rican percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo. And it is completed by an interesting interview with sound engineer Lauren Serrano about how to amplify the box drum.

Miguel Poveda, Vicente Amigo, Jesús Méndez and Pablo Martín
on DVD 'El cajón flamenco de Paquito González'