La noche de Pepe Habichuela
Friday, October 13th, 2006. 9:00pm
Teatro Central

Special 14th Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla. Reviews, programa, photos...

Text: Estela Zatania

Guitar and artistic director: Pepe Habichuela, Josemi Carmona. Guest artists: Cante: Pitingo, Pepe Luis Carmona, Amparo Bengala. Bass: Carles Benavent. Dance: David Paniagua. Guitar: Carlos Habichuela, Carlos Carmona. Percussion: Bandolero, Nono Carmona, Juan Carmona “El Tallarín”.

In traditional flamenco, the family has special significance because of the part it plays in the transmission of customs, songs, dances and music. Nowadays, when the globalization of flamenco is homogenizing flavors which used to be easily distinguished, the avant-garde showcase of the Bienal de Sevilla has managed to find room for several shows tinged with family ties, most notably, the show of the Amador family, and to a lesser extent, those of Fernando Terremoto and Tomás de Perrate. But “La noche de Pepe Habichuela” was an authentic celebration of Granada flamenco vía the dynasty of the Habichuela family.

The star of the night, Pepe Habichuela spent his formative years in Granada at a time when it seemed like the Granada style of playing, handed down from Juanillo el Gitano and spectacularly developed by the Habichuelas and Juan Maya Marote, was going to be the pattern for a new era of flamenco guitar. And towards the end of the nineteen-sixties, this energetic style of pulling flamenco sounds from the guitar was the style everyone wanted to hear. Paco de Lucía would soon come along to take command of the ship when no one was looking, but that period of transition from past to future remains as a brilliant parenthesis that continues to shine, even after decades have passed.

One of the last of a generation of guitarists whose prime goal was not a concert career.

This is what we were witness to last night at the Teatro Central, the declaration of a way of playing guitar that continues to demonstrate its relevance. Sincere and direct, with classic harmony, and compás served on a platter as if inviting any singer or dancer to jump in, the result of the many years Pepe Habichuela spent playing at tablaos and for dance companies, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Juan Habichuela.

The show, which began with historic images of Habichuela el viejo, juggles nostalgia and present times, with the constant communication between generations as suggested in film clips and on stage with young musicians and veterans reveling in their perfect rapport. Pepe Habichuela is one of the last of a generation of guitarists whose prime goal was not a concert career.

He begins alone, with granaína, exhibiting an expressive touch, sweet and lyrical, then soleá, taking full advantage of his prodigious thumb and the famous Marote rasgueado, playing with knowledge and dignity. His brother Carlos backs him up on the guitar for fandangos de Huelva, and young singer Pepe Luis Carmona does a good job with martinete and debla – it's a different flavor from what we're used to, and it goes down fine. Pepe's wife Amparo, originally from Sevilla, and who used to be a dancer, comes on stage. She says how pleased she is to be in her hometown and explains: “I'm a dancer, but I'm going to sing the fandangos of my father, Miguel Bengala”. When she finishes, she tenderly kisses Pepe and leaves him alone on stage to play bulerías.

A brilliant parenthesis that continues to shine, even after decades

Singer Pitingo who recently recorded with the Habichuelas, arrives on stage and sings malagueñas with a fragile melismatic voice reminiscent of times past. David Paniagua dances alegrías with a straightahead Farruquito style, and doing it well despite a bit too much adrenaline. From this moment on, you sense the changing of the generational guard. Carles Benavent comes on with his electric bass, the younger members of the family bring out the Hindu instruments and the sound turns international. Josemi, Pepe's son, joins in, and all that's left is the fiesta finale to tie up loose ends. But it's a Granada style fiesta, to tangos, with traditional cantes from Sacromonte. No one budges from their seat, so bulerías is thrown in for good measure, and yet another curtain call for Pepe and his wife who treat us to the historical sight of the two of them dancing together.

More information:

Special XIV Bienal de Flamenco. Program, reviews, photos