José Valencia «Directo» – Review & photos

Sara Arguijo
Photos: Adam Newby

Cante: José Valencia Guitarra: Juan Requena, Paco Jarana. Palmas: Bobote, Manuel Valencia and Juan Diego Valencia. Special collaboration: Eva Yerbabuena. Teatro Quintero Seville. Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 Attendance: full

Bulerías of the tenor

José Valencia is a tenor who likes to unbutton his shirt to push out the notes.  He's a rock star who, when he gets up from his chair and swaggers around the stage, triggers euphoria in the audience.  He's an actor in the style of De Niro who takes you off-guard with a single word.  And then, or perhaps first and foremost, he is a well-worn flamenco singer with bulerías to die for.  For all these reasons, the other day at the Teatro Quintero de Sevilla, he again left the audience speechless at the presentation of  ‘Directo’, CD + DVD, the record he made during the last Bienal de Sevilla, and which he has just launched.

José is a stage animal who spares no energy, and gets people worked up like few other singers.  Like in the illustration on the cover of the record, he opens his chest and pierces the air straight to your heart.  You feel he's secure in what he does, brave and fearless with the tremendous knowledge that comes from singing for dance.

Because of his voice, his attitude and his interpretive abilities, he can sing anything, but let's all hope he keeps singing flamenco.  Because we need examples who let us defend this artform, when it's well done, and communicate with anyone, triggering the most complex feelings.

This live recording, ‘Directo’, from the moment it opens with a pregón, toná fandango, bulerías and seguiriyas, right through to the astonishing bulerías of Lebrija in «Mes de Mayo», through to granaína, tangos, liviana and alegrías, is a show to be enjoyed for the cante, and also a fine recording that could even get you going on a Sunday morning.

On this occasion, far more relaxed that the day of the recording, Valencia was extremely at ease, and knew how to dole out his earth-shaking force.  And he had the collaboration of dancer Eva Yerbabuena who delighted the audience with some passionate tangos, with the moral support of many fellow artists who didn't want to miss her performance.  Pedro el Granaíno was there, as well as Juan José Amador, Ana Morales, Andrés Marín…  Let this be an example of what we said.  José is quite possibly the most contemporary of the pure singers, and vice versa.

 

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