The Jerez-born cantaor pays tribute to poet José Hierro

Flamenco-world.com, February 2004

Vicente Soto 'Sordera' has just recorded and mastered his new album. 'Star Alegre' will come out this spring. The Jerez-born cantaor has enjoyed the collaborations of guitarists Moraíto, Diego del Morao, Parrilla de Jerez and José María Molero on this record. Other artists have also made their contribution such as Tomasito and Juañares, among others. Meanwhile, Sordera de Jerez's son keeps on working live. One of his current projects is the tribute to poet José Hierro, which with the title 'El Hierro de Vicente Soto' is to be presented in Santander on Thursday, February 19th.

Manuel Parrilla and Vicente Soto during the record of 'Star Alegre'
(Photo: vicentesoto.com)

Months after the re-release of 'Entre dos mundos' in the United States by the label Wea Latina (Warner Music) - renamed 'Latin Essentials' - Vicente Soto 'Sordera' is preparing the launch of a new album. Scheduled for release in spring of 2004 is 'Star Alegre', a record on which the cantaor from Jerez is backed by a group of top-notch guitarists: Moraíto, Diego del Morao, Manuel Parrilla de Jerez and José María Molero. The album, recorded and mastered at SH Record Studios in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), also has touches of the art of Tomasito, Juañares, La Chelo, Joselito el Boys and Josete Ordóñez, among others.

Literature

At the same time he is preparing the album, Vicente Soto goes on offering his cante live. One of the most outstanding performances on his agenda is 'El Hierro de Vicente Soto', a tribute to poet José Hierro which he will put on stage at the Caja Cantabria Auditorium in Santander (Spain) on Thursday, February 19th, 2004. In this show, in which he sings poems by the late writer, he will be accompanied by guitarists Manuel Parrilla and Josete Ordóñez, percussionists Joselito el Boys and Manuel Soto, cellist Sebastián Fuenzalida and pianist Inma. This tribute was already performed in April 1999 at the Cervantes Theater in Alcalá de Henares on the occasion of José Hierro being awarded the Cervantes Prize. Nor is it the first time that Sordera has approached literature, since back in 1986 he recorded poems by Portuguese Pessoa, with Enrique de Melchor and Tomatito on guitar.

Pedro Atienza, Diego del Morao, Josete, Vicente Soto and Moraíto
(Photo: vicentesoto.com)

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