Jerónimo & José Ramón Jiménez 'Donde da la vuelta el aire' La Fortuna

Jerónimo & José Ramón Jiménez
“Donde da la vuelta el aire”

Text: Pablo San Nicasio
Photos: Rafael Manjavacas

The Leganés flamenco week came to an end with guitarist Jerónimo, and dancer El Güito.  A team of illustrious Madrid artists from different generations, but with intense flavors that reflect their respective talents.  The nearly full sports arena was proof that that something worthwhile was being offered.

Jerónimo Maya opened with his buddy and sidekick José Ramón Jiménez, a pianist from the legendary Caño Roto school, just like Jerónimo himself, a neighborhood not far from “La Fortuna” where this flamenco series is held.

The pair offered what could most aptly be called a kind of “free flamenco”.  Compás and harmony.  The first three numbers, based on free-form guitar, were very apt for both musicians but a little hard to take for the audience.  José Ramón’s piano was dynamic in Levante style, with the virtue of his being a good accompanist when backing up Jerónimo.

The guitarist offered a wonderful rondeña, with a splendid first part that employed novel harmony, and a second one that returned to the familiar terrain of patriarch Ramón Montoya.

He continued with a piece of exceptional originality dedicated to his brother Leo.  A composition with moments that were reminiscent of granaína, bulería and taranta.

Two decades ago, Jerónimo startled the flamenco world with his precocious virtuosity.  Today, he continues to be a tremendous soloist, with somewhat more pyrotechnics in the right hand.  But now, his strength is the left hand.  Wonderful results and novel concepts from this guitarist always adds up to good news. 

He closed with rumba, giving the feeling that Jerónimo has quite overcome the custom of concentrating only on the fingers, a danger feared by many when the boy was devouring the world with his extraordinary technical ability.

The second part was El Güito who is living his newfound youth, and lest we forget, he has recently suffered the loss of his dear friend and companion Mario Maya.  Eduardo came on prepared to give it his all in three specialties: farruca, soleá (good grief, so slow!) and bulerías.

With the accompaniment of Basilio García and Juan Serrano on guitar, and the gypsy singing of José Jiménez and Antonio “El Porras”, the Madrid dancer displayed his considerable physical faculties, given his age.  Some abilities are simply never forgotten.

Güito held his own with bulerías, with Miguel Téllez, a well-known dancer in Spain’s capital, doing the palmas.

A fitting closing to a weeklong festival that has become well-established over the course of fifteen editions, and is one of the most notable events of its kind.

• Galeria videográfica
• Galeria fotográfica de las XV Jornadas Flamencas de La Fortuna