RIP Paco de Lucia

[Prospero]

The great Spanish flamenco guitarist - who branched out into any other musical genres - has died in Spain. He was just 66. RIP.

[Stavros]

66 is too young an age in this century; I am not a guitar aficionado but a relative who is rated him as highly as the others of that generation and (slightly earlier) eg Narciso Yepes, Paco Pena et al. I wonder if this tradition has been maintained in Spain...as well as the fusion with contemporary music, the roots go back to Moorish Spain, and even beyond.

[vandamme]

He died today while playing with his sons on a beach in Cancun - Mexico not in Spain. I was lucky enough to watch one of his live guitar exhibitions quite recently... RIP dear Paco!

[waldo pepper]

Too young indeed. RIP

[sukumvit boy]

Paco de Lucia was truly a legendary guitarist , not only as a one of the great flamenco masters of all time , but also as a classical guitarist and composer.
If you like "Concierto de Aranjuez" ,you must hear de Lucia play and bring out the true gypsy flavor ,Flamenco Puro.
Thanks for the amazing body of work that you have left us ,Maestro de Lucia , RIP.


Paco de LucÃa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[El_hefe]

Shit! I didn't know this, too young & such a wonderful artist. RIP

[sukumvit boy]

66 is too young an age in this century; I am not a guitar aficionado but a relative who is rated him as highly as the others of that generation and (slightly earlier) eg Narciso Yepes, Paco Pena et al. I wonder if this tradition has been maintained in Spain...as well as the fusion with contemporary music, the roots go back to Moorish Spain, and even beyond.

Interesting points ,Stavros .
The mix that resulted from 700 years of Islamic occupation of Spain until Ferdinand and Isabella took over in 1492 gave us that wonderful Moorish flavor in Spanish architecture and music.
The micro tonality that is so much a part of Middle Eastern music fused with Spanish folk music which had elements of Judaic , Catholic church music and even Gregorian chant.
Than , when the Romani (Gypsy) settled in Spain they found an instrument that was easy to acquire , portable and very versatile and expressive , the Spanish Guitar!
Currently , the two major schools of Flamenco are the Flamenco Puro , which aims to preserve the traditional Flamenco , and the Nuevo Flamenco of which Paco de Lucia was one of the greatest examples.
Unfortunately ,some of the legends are lost forever since no recordings
were made.
http://www.flamencoguitarplayer.com/...utflamenco.cfm
This is one of my favorite oldies.
Manuel Vallejo is the vocalist , love his outfit and those heart wrenching falsettos!

[Stavros]

Many thanks for that wonderful clip -I think the singer also has a pony tail behind that splendid hat. His song resembles the one in the clip below by Montseraat Figueras, the late wife of Jordi Savall whose work you probably know; I have also always liked the painting by Singer Sargent, El Jaleo (it is in the Isabella Steward Gardner museum in Boston).

Paco de Lucia performed at last year's Sacred Music Festival in Fes, which is held every June and is a festival I have thought of going to in the past.

http://www.fesfestival.com/2013/indexen.php

[waldo pepper]

Thanks for the clips and history sukumvit boy & Stavros. Great stuff!

I know that the purists don't like it but I also enjoyed the combinations by artists of the rich musical history of Spanish music with modern approaches. Ketama, as one example, made some interesting music that wouldn't have been possible without Paco de Lucia.

[Prospero]

I enjoy both - so listen without prejudice. And also, thanks Stavros and sukumvit.