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Festival de la Yerbabuena was founded in 1970 at the height of the
cante festival movement setting motion a dynamic that changed the
very face of flamenco. The sometimes sordid world of roadside inns,
rakish rich boys giving “little presents” in exchange
for interminable hours of cante, the excesses and the disappointments…everything
was replaced by film-star salaries and an ever more knowledgeable,
demanding and occasionally rowdy audience. Juan Peña “Lebrijano”
was one of the founders of the Yerbabuena, and on this occasion, thirty-five
years later (the festival was suspended from 1976-1996), he who was
the young prince of summer cante festivals and protégé
of maestro Antonio Mairena, was at the top of a short, but dignified
bill.
On the program we read that the Yerbabuena festival
has the tradition of paying tribute “to people who day-in
and day-out have consistently been outstanding in any branch of
the arts” presenting them with the sterling silver “Yerbabuena”.
In previous years people such as singer Concha Piquer, writer Camilo
José Cela, guitarist Manolo Sanlúcar and bullfighter
Curro Romero among many others received this distinction, and this
year’s winner and guest of honor was the very popular singer
Rocío Jurado who is recuperating from a difficult illness.
It’s not necessary to be
a major star to perform with respect and dignity
than twenty years ago Rocío and Lebrijano collaborated on
a recording called “Ven y Sígueme” with guitarist
Manolo Sanlúcar, and the evening promised an interesting
assortment of emotions, different from what we’re accustomed
to at these events. But it turned out to be a night best described
via negatives. The famous singer’s admirers did not fill the
discreet area to overflowing, Lebrijano did not demonstrate that
he is one of the last of an endangered species, he did not sing
confidently, powerfully or with the good taste he exhibited just
one week ago in the neighboring town, his town, of Lebrija and Aurora
Vargas, god bless her, did not disappoint anyone.
Rewind… After some words and applause for maestro Chocolate who
left us just a few days ago, two local singers demonstrated that
it’s not necessary to be a major star to perform with respect
and dignity. Juan Fernández “El Chiva”, winner
of the eighth cante contest of the Peña Cultural Flamenca
“Fernando el Herrero” and descended from legendary singer
Juaniquí de Lebrija, sang por soleá with the unmistakable
sound of his geographical area, bulerías dedicated to Rocío
Jurado and fandangos, with the accompaniment of young Juanito de
Clavijo. Rosi Quiñones, much more of a lyrical singer than
a “cantaora” interpreted classic Spanish songs to bulerías,
including Jurado’s hit “Se Rompió el Amor”
with such inspiration that Jurado jumped to her feet to applaud
the singer.
Like classic Coke, Aurora Vargas is
a permanent favorite
Next up was Lebrijano with Pedro María Peña on the
guitar, and although the singer didn’t quite connect with
the audience on this particular occasion, the tribute offered afterwards
to his “childhood friend, my Rocío”, delighted
paparazzi who had descended upon the sleepy town of Las Cabezas
to cover the event, and brought laughter and tears to everyone present.
Aurora Vargas turned out to be the festival’s most saving
grace. Like classic Coke, the Seville singer is a permanent favorite.
She was accompanied by the very Jerez-sounding guitar of Diego Amaya.
Aurora held nothing back with her traditional alegrías de
Cádiz, soleá and bulerías dedicated to Rocío.
Out of respect for the guest of honor, the festival was kept to
a respectable duration and wrapped up at two in the morning with
the group “Puro Jerez” and Diego de Morao on the guitar
for a variety of numbers with many references honoring bullfighter
Curro Romero sitting in the front row.
Text & photos: Estela
Zatania
XII Festival
de la Yerbabuena 2003
XIII Festival
de la Yerbabuena 2004
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