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TRIBUTE TO MORAÍTO |
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Tex and photos : Estela Zatania Three thousand people come together for a moving tribute that will go down in history Guitar: Diego del Morao, Paco Cepero, Pedro Carrasco “Niño Jero”, Juan Diego Mateos, Manuel Parrilla, Fernando Romero. He was there last night. No one doubted it for an instant. We all knew Manuel Moreno Junquera, so admired for his art and loved for his human qualities, was the absolute guest of honor. This time he hadn’t come to perform, but important flamenco people, from Jerez as well as outside, came to pay him tribute. Over three thousand people packed the Palacio de Deportes, and more than hearing music, what we most wanted was to somehow feel the presence of Moraíto, and express the boundless affection we have for him.
December 14 and 15, at Madrid’s Teatro Coliseum, the tribute will continue with many of the same performers who participated last night, and a few additional ones. The evening began with the projection of Jesús Quintero interviewing Moraíto and José Mercé, fragments of their music, the charming bit of dance…never have recorded images seemed more vivid. Moraíto so full of life, so Jerez, so much ours. “The guitar has to be caressed, not punished” says Manuel to Quintero in the interview. Then Quintero himself speaks from the stage: “He left us when he was still young, with his artistry in full bloom…such a fine person”. On comes the son, Diego del Morao, he picks up his father’s guitar which had been resting on a chair, and plays bulerías with all the inherited flavor and rhythm, with contemporary touches appropriate to his age. Thunderous applause, standing ovation, cheering…it’s a historical moment that fathers will describe to sons, and sons to grandchildren. But there was flamenco business to get on with. Lots. The backdrop showed the projected image of Moraíto with one of those looks that makes people remark “the eyes follow you”. And so it seemed, Moraíto Chico, Morao, with his boyish smile, seemed to observe the six plus hours of performances offered in his honor and memory.
Nearly all the artists who’d promised to come showed up, a rarity for this type of non-remunerated event, and then some. Many people in the audience commented that this was how the Fiesta de la Bulería ought to be, but this was no time to criticize or evaluate anyone’s performance, not Cigala’s or Pastori’s…not Torta’s or Poveda’s. Everyone gave everything for Morao, and the barrier that normally separates audience and performers became blurred with the flow of emotion. If anything can be said, well yes, I’d never seen Chati Méndez sing with such power and conviction, Antonio el Pipa defended and made good his fame and Enrique Soto “Sordera” managed to stand out even in the midst of so many big stars. José Mercé, now artistically orphaned, was outstanding as always, but he seemed to give even a bit more this night. My colleague José María Castaño, always so ready to pitch in for these events, served as master of ceremonies and triggered a heartfelt ovation when he announced that Moraíto would be named a Favorite Son of Jerez. He also took the trouble to request applause for Manuel Morao “Viejo”, the elder patriarch and survivor of this Jerez guitar dynasty. Castaño also pointed out that Diego el Cigala’s team had organized the tribute, and that Diego Carrasco, who did not come out on stage, had a lot to do with it as well. For the inevitable fiesta finale with the participation of all the artists, the surprise ending was Farruquito and Carpeta, not announced on the program. And thus, two centuries of flamenco evolution came together and culminated the night of November 18th, 2011 in a great healing wave of music to remember Moraíto and make us feel his presence.
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