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Pintaba Picasso,
pintaba Picasso
Los genios nunca mueren
y yo te estoy cantando.
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Picasso painted,
Picasso painted
genius never dies
so I’m singing to you
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Diego el Cigala sings tangos-tientos to Pablo Picasso on his new record
Picasso en Mis Ojos, a work dedicated to the Málaga painter and
which brings together a galaxy of maestros. Picasso en Mis Ojos is more
than a record, it’s a bit of musical luxury which includes the guitars
of Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Raimundo Amador, Josemi Carmona, Diego
Morao, Manuel Parrilla and Paquete; the trumpet of Jerry González;
lyrics by Rafael Alberti, Javier Ruibal, Javier Krahe, Carlos Chaouen
and Juan Antonio Salazar; music by Paquete, Diego el Cigala… Not to
mention other great musicians such as Ramón El Portugués,
Yumitus, Porrina, Bandolero, Juañares, Piraña… A true
luxury.
Diego el Cigala is true to the spirit of Picasso. From the first number,
Chanelando, tangos with the guitars of Diego Morao and Manuel Parrilla,
there’s a real flamenco feel. Paco de Lucía’s guitar
is heard alone with Diego’s voice in Por Los Ríos, bulerías
by Juan Antonio Salazar, one of Camarón’s composers; Malagueño
mixes alegrías and mirabrás with lyrics by Javier Ruibal;
Luna de Plata gets back to bulerías with Tomatito, and Ketama alumnus
Josemi Carmona takes over in La Palmona where Rafael Alberti’s famous
poem becomes fandangos.
Next comes Guernika to tangos; Amparo, also with an Alberti verse, por
bulerías; Apenao is a Latin-style rumba with Raimundo Amador’s
guitar and Jerry González’ trumpet for an extra treat; Javier
Krahe puts words to a Romance and Carlos Chaouen from Cádiz, does
the same in Acuarela, the beautiful soleá with closes out the recording.
Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar was born in Madrid in December
1968. Rafael Farina’s nephew, Diego sang in the bars of Madrid’s
famous flea market, and at the age of 12 won a TV contest as well as first
prize at Flamenco Joven de Getafe. As the story goes, in 1988 Camarón
dubbed him Dieguito, and it was perhaps that relationship which led to
the similarity in their voices and delivery.
In 1991 he participated in the Misa Flamenca with Paco Peña, and
in 1998 released Undebel, his first solo recording, with David Amaya,
Tomatito and Paquete on the guitar. Ein 2000, Javier Limón came
into the picture to produce Entre Vareta y Canasta with the participation
of Gran Wyoming, Santiago Segura, Pablo Carbonell and Javier Krahe among
others, as well as the guitars of Niño Josele and Vicente Amigo.
His fourth recording was made during a live concert at the Teatro Real
in Madrid with the sole accompaniment of Niño Josele, and produced
by Javier Limón. In 2002 one of the most surprising musical phenomenons
in the history of Spanish music took place. Taking off from Fernando Trueba’s
idea, Bebo Valdés and Diego el Cigala started rehearsing together.
Fifty years separated the Cuban pianist and the Spanish flamenco singer.
Thus was born Lágrimas Negras, as well as Bebo & Cigala.
In the spring of 2003 Lágrimas Negros was released and quickly
became an international hit. In 2004 the work won a Grammy, three Premios
de la Música, Premio Ondas, five Premios Amigo, three platinum
records for Spain as well as one each in Argentina, México and
Venezuela. The New York Times called Lágrimas Negras the “best
record of the year” and Bebo & Cigala filled the best theaters
of Paris, New York, London, Havana, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Mexico City,
Madrid, Barcelona… By the end of 2004 Lágrimas Negras had sold
over 700,000 copies worldwide. Seldom had there been such a perfect combination
of quality and originality, a master pianist and the power of a voice.
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