First day of the Nimes Festival and the organizers
seem determined to put their town on the flamenco map for
once and for all with this 16th celebration of the event.
Last night it was the very flamenco voice of Jerez singer
Luis el Zambo who has managed to become one of the most important
singers of his generation in less than eight years. With an
opening performance by Marseilles singer José la Negreta,
we were treated to an evening of top-quality classic cante
in the laid-back atmosphere of the Odeon theater and café
cantante in the lovely city of Nimes.
Perhaps it’s the magnificent Roman bull-ring dominating
the city that triggers this fascination with Spanish culture.
A fascination cultivated and nourished over the years by the
presence of top artists such as Manolo Sanlúcar, Fosforito,
Paco de Lucía, Israel Galván (also performing
this year), Chano Lobato, Fernanda de Utrera, Antonio Gades,
Manuela Carrasco, Eva Yerbabuena, El Cigala, Antonio Canales,
Vicente Amigo, Mayte Martín and Belén Maya and
El Torta among many others, in additon to Camarón’s
and Tomatito’s last public appearance together in 1992.
José la Negreta: intelligence,
heart and great dignity
José la Negreta from Marseille grew up in a family
with Andalusian roots where cante flamenco was preserved and
cherished as a family heirloom and cultural treasure. Dressed
in suit and tie he addressed the audience in Spanish to announce
he was going to open with soleá. With intelligence,
heart and great dignity José offerred this basic cante
followed by siguiriyas, an assortment of styles from “Por
los rincones” to the “cuco” with some frankly
excellent moments, ending his performance with bulerías
and an encore of fandangos.
Alter the intermission, absolute darkness sets the stage
for the first taste of a voice which is one of the jewels
of the flamenco crown worn by Jerez. Luis Fernández
Soto, Luis el Zambo, applied his warm sincere delivery and
every bit of his personality to an assortment of tonás.
The lights went up and another man from Jerez, Alfredo Lagos,
appeared on stage. Alfredo, one of the most sought-after guitarists
of the current scene, is scheduled to play for Israel Galván
on the 26th within the program of the festival. His knowledge
of cante and his good taste make for excellent accompaniment
to coddle and accommodate Luis el Zambo who sings on this
occasion with all the command of a maestro. Soleá por
bulería, or as they say in Jerez, “bulería
pa’ escuchar”, with a flavor reminiscent of his
uncle Manuel Soto “Sordera”, and a “tarantita”
which steers clear of the Torre model achieving an authentic
enough sound to satisfy the most demanding flamenco follower
from the Levante region. And so we discover that contrary
to popular belief, mining cante can be easily adapted to a
thick gypsy voice when the owner of that voice is Luis el
Zambo.
José de la Negreta (Foto: Estela Zatania)
El Zambo, one of the jewels of
the flamenco crown worn by Jerez
Tientos, not a customary part of this singer’s repertoire,
ending with tangos and a nostalgic nod to Camarón.
Fandangos naturales with two verses of the Gloria style, the
second of which alludes to the author of the style himself,
then soleá, “there are at least 500 styles”…perhaps
not quite that many Luis, but we’re well-served with
the assortment you dish up. Malagueñas where the singer
makes full use of his wonderful ability to sing with the ease
the rest of us speak, while lesser singers resort to special
effects, and then siguiriyas managing to stand hairs on end
while singing with absolute naturalness and to finish, a mini
fiesta finale complete with Luis’ dance to delight the
crowd.
A very complete recital by a singer who has often been criticized
for being short on repertoire but who took full advantage
of his natural talent to interpret a wide selection of styles.
A well-rounded evening of good solid cante on this first night
of the Nimes festival.
