The Paco de Lucía Project and the Power of Flamenco

Hablando con el ciego sin bastón

escucho una canción que nombra a los culpables

Que es cierto que hay mentira en el reloj

y a veces es mejor fiarse de las aves

I was introduced to Flamenco music by some of my dearest friends. They have been dancing since middle school, and I seized every opportunity to go see their shows. What I love the most about it is the intrinsic relationship between dance and music; the way they complement each other. The guitar sounds like its flourishing, the cajón sets the beat and the dancers fill in the blanks. In this exchange of rhythm and color, they tell a story even in the absence of lyrics.

Paco de Lucía was one of the biggest Flamenco stars. He pioneered the fusion with Jazz music and collaborated with some of their greatest contemporary musicians like Chick Corea, Al Di Meola, and John McLaughling. He produced more than 30 albums and won two Grammy Awards, but his real success lies in the way he revolutionized a whole music genre. He died when he was 66 in México, leaving a void in the Flamenco world.

Among those who knew Paco is none other than Javier Limón, his former producer. A Flamenco legend himself, Javier is known for being a prolific composer, producer, and guitarist, always involved in top quality music projects. He is behind The Paco de Lucía Project, bringing together the original band that toured with Paco during the last decade of his career. Antonio Serrano in the harmonica, Antonio Sánchez — Paco’s nephew — on the guitar, Alain Pérez in the bass, Israel “Piraña” Suáres in the percussion, David de Jacoba as vocalist and dancer Antonio Fernández “Farru” Montoya, who also played the guitar on some tunes. (Fun fact: Javier is also Nella Rojas’ producer, a Venezuelan singer who is playing in San Francisco soon — stay tuned for that review!)

A few weeks ago, on October 23rd, The Paco de Lucía Project played in the Herbst Theater in San Francisco (where the United Nations Charter was signed in 1945) as part of the SFJazz 2019 season. I knew I had to go as soon as I saw them in the lineup for this year. Among the songs they played, there were “El Ciego Sin Bastón”, “Entre Dos Aguas, “Zyryab”, “Canción de Amor” and “Spain”.

“El Ciego Sin Bastón” and “Spain” were my favorites of the night. The former, written by Alain Pérez, because it is a Salsa and Flamenco blend and it is impossible to sit still during this song. As for “Spain”, written by Chick Corea, because there is a story embedded in the melody itself. It transports you to the bars, the pebbled streets, the beautiful landscapes of the country the song is named after.

Each band member got a chance to demonstrate their prowess. Alain Pérez and Piraña could make everyone’s feet move involuntarily. David’s voice was surreal; its power and his ability to play with pitch and rhythm are mind-blowing. Antonio plays the guitar masterfully, with a relaxed stance and with a smile on his face, as if he was doing the easiest thing in the world. Farru took the stage on a couple of occasions to dance, and the audience could not contain their excitement. But I think my favorite instrument was the harmonica; its sound is so expressive and colorful, plus Antonio’s mastery is overwhelming. If you closed your eyes, you would not feel you were in San Francisco anymore: you were walking the streets of Spain, you were in a tablao, you were just floating in space.

The show ended with a well-deserved standing ovation.

Every time I hear Flamenco I remember the costumes, the colors, the movement. The joy of the musicians playing, the passion of everyone on stage. It brings back fond memories and I associate it with people I care about dearly. This show was special, intimate and soulful. It showcased the versatility of Flamenco, Paco’s undeniable legacy and the immense talent of the band. They honored a star, yet each shone on its own. Moreover, they honored a friend. Hence, this concert went beyond musical virtuosity, it was filled with love and emotion. This is music in its purest form; this is when it becomes most powerful.

They did not let me film in the venue, so I’ll leave you with a promo video of the Paco de Lucía Project. I hope it sparks curiosity for the band or the genre, or just makes your day a bit more colorful.

Las penas que tú me das

no son penas

son cositas buenas

¡Ole!

Are you familiar with Flamenco music? Had you heard about Paco before? Which type of music brings back fond memories for you? Let’s start a conversation!

Nos vemos pronto,

Fabiola