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Home  Blog Flamenco Antequera
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Flamenco Antequera |
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Strolling across the Plaza del Escribano on a sunny winter’s afternoon showing off the glories of Antequera to visiting friends, we heard the sound of flamenco. As we paused to admire the facade of the Santa Maria and headed towards the Roman baths, we noticed a young man sitting on the wall playing his guitar. Stopping to listen to him we were knocked out by how well he played and the beauty of his music. Flamenco is synonymous with Andalucia. However, where it actually comes from is a subject of heated debate among aficionados. Some believe that the source of flamenco lies with the Moors and Safadis, who were here for hundreds of years until being overthrown by Isabella La Catolica. Or did Indian gypsies and entertainers bring it with them in the 1500s? Certainly, the dance is very similar to Katak, an ancient foot stamping form which is still taught today in Rajastan. Still others say that flamenco is modern, just a couple of hundred years old and its roots are from South America.Whatever, no matter how it all began, flamenco is a living art, ever evolving. Many towns and villages have a pea flamenca, (flamenco club), where people gather to listen to and watch groups of musicians, singers and dancers. There is an annual, national competition, conferring much prestige on the winners. Festivals and concerts abound all over the country. Antequera hosts its own flamenco festival every year in August. There is much flamenco fusion, with traditional groups playing alongside other types of musicians. Our young musician on the wall, Abel Sanchez is a perfect example of how Flamenco thrives and flourishes in C21st Spain, born in Fuente de Piedra some 27 years ago. Abel grew up surrounded by flamenco. His father, an enthusiast, had a guitar and a record player. A close friend of his, who had neither, would come by every day to play and listen. This was Paco de Antequera, who was to become a renowned flamenco guitarist all over Spain in the 60s and 70s, playing with many luminaries of the period, including Antonio Gades. Abel had a punk moment, but got over it and by the time he was 19 was totally immersed in the music of his land. He was good enough to win a place studying with Maestro Paco for a couple of years, but is mainly self taught. He is a great admirer of Paco de Lucia, without whom, he says, there would be no modern flamenco music. In fact, the cajon (percussive box) that is now such a staple instrument in any flamenco group, comes from Peru and was introduced into flamenco by Paco de Lucia only about 30 years ago. Though his influences are traditional, Abel, like Vincente Amigo and Geraldo Nuez, composes his own music. He lives and breathes flamenco. He plays alone, or with a group which includes Fran on percussion and Javi on flute. He gives private guitar lessons and also classes on cajon at the Casa de la Cultura. He is keen to play anywhere he can. He has performed in the north of Spain, and is soon going to London. See him at www.myspace.com/abelcarvajal.When in Antequera he plays at Bar Ambigue and Manolo Bar both on c/Calzada. If you want to experience the real thing, look out for him. by Carmen Jones
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