With the help of journalist, flamencologist and guitarist José Manuel Gamboa, the French guitarist presented his latest work called 'Orillas' [Night&Day – 2003] to the press at Madrid's Corral de la Morería, offering a short guitar recital.
A recording which is a “tribute to Morocco and Andalusia when those
two regions were a single united kingdom…”, a record which moves
between two Mediterranean shores, with the participation of Antonio Canales,
bass-player Carles Benavent, Jorge Pardo, Piraña, the voices of Potito,
Montse Cortés, José de la Negreta and Luisa Muños, with a Jerez representation
in the form of Juañares, Chicharito, Gregorio Fernández… The “Orquesta
Filarmónica de Rabat” also participates as well as musicians from
the Marseille Opera: “I want it to sound flamenco, not stick in a violin
or an orchestra because it's fashionable” says Juan.
The guitarist appeared to be pleased to be presenting his record in Spain,
“since it's not easy any more for foreign flamenco artists to be here”.
The record was made in Jerez de la Frontera where the musician shared
experiences with artists from the most important neighborhoods, the Plazuela
and Santiago, “one bunch wanted me to go to their territory, and the
other, to theirs, it was a love-hate relationship“, but always with
admiration for Jerez and what it represents. “I have a great deal of
respect for Morao, I can't make falsetas like his, I'm from Lyon, my cultural
background is from the other side, so it's more difficult”. He added
ironically “when I'm in Spain, the call me the Frenchman, and when
I'm in France, they call me the Spaniard.”
The guitarist is preparing a tour with his group for this summer through
Germany, Italy, France and hopefully, Spain..
