Mateo's Blog

MADRID DIA 4

I am so happy to be back in Madrid after a two year absence.  My apartment is in Lavapies which is like East Greenwich Village and can be summed up in one word:  MULTICULTURAL.  Calle Ave Maria hosts one Hindustani restaurant after another and the rich scent of sambar and curry wafts in the air transporting me back to the India where I spent two years of my twenty-something life.  Then I come upon a row of middle eastern restaurants and tea-houses (teterias) with falafel and baba ganoush and, of course, hubbly-bubblies. ¿ Donde estoy?  Ah, si---Madrid.  Lavapies. And FLAMENCO!  3 nights, 3 excellent shows with late nights spent at Triana Club and Bar Solea´ listening to cante until dawn.  The best show so far was a Japanese pianist, Mie Matsumura, joined by two guitarists (Juan Requena,  a favorite of mine...) and singer Jose Valencia (good not great) moving seamlessly through Falla, Granados, Albeniz and flamenco.  All this interpreted with depth, conviction, majesty and flawless technique by dancers Rafael Campallo and Leonor Leal.  Both danced all-out, solos, and, as partners exhibited a chemistry that was very moving and rarely seen to this degree.  Campallo is, in my opinion, surely one of Spain´s top dancers at this time. The first part of the show featured Diego Amador Quinteto.  Diego is the younger brother of the Pata Negra boys, Rafael y Raimundo, and is a pianist very flamenco, managing rasgueos and alza puas somehow plus he sings extremely well, a little reminiscent of Cigala.  I was excited to hear him as I have his CDs and like him a lot---but---his show was a disappointment.  I guess I´d call it the triumph of form over substance while the second half was the triumph of substance over form.  His Taranta was the only number that inspired and his meandering falsetas became meaningless after awhile.  I´d have to say (blasphemy, I know...)he was blown off the stage the the slender, elegant Japanese woman. Tonight, we are going to see Sara Baras, another of my very favorites.  It´ll be her interpretation of Carmen and I just hope it isn´t too presumido and over-blown.  Because, really, all I want is to watch her bulerias....
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SHORT ITEMS FLAMENCO Y MAS!

Springtime has finally come to Minnesota which means grilling and---SANGRIA!  Check out my recipe/formula for this high-octane concoction right here on my blog.  Its an earlier post from last summer or the year before. The legendary singer from Cadiz, Chano Lobato, passed on April 5th of this year.  I got to hear him maybe 8 times and he had a special gracia that was unforgetable.  He joins so many singers who have passed the last 5 years or so---Fernanda, Chocolate, Sordera, La Paquera.  Its the passing of a whole generation of greats.  He was 82. I am excited to be returning to Madrid in a month.  It's been two years now and I am soooo ready. Mandragora Tango is nearing completion of our new CD.  I think it'll be titled "Siete Tandas" with reference to the practice of playing a (usually) three song grouping of similar tunes---say three by Pugliese or by Piazzolla or Troilo or 3 milongas or waltzes.  This will be a very dancer-friendly recording as well as feature some really nice playing.  Mostly, it is just really indicative of how Mandragora sounds right now.  We've been taking our time recording it, doing some new arrangements and just trying to get it right. Mandragora Tango will be doing a pre-CD Release fundraiser on May 2nd, 2009 from 9PM till late.  It'll be held at Zorongo Flamenco Studios, 3012 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis, MN.  Bob the bandoneon player is baking hot pretzels and I'm doing my sangria.  We promise a super-fun evening. La Bodega Tapas Bar of Minneapolis, Minnesota closed recently.  The Bodega had a real commitment to live flamenco since it opened 8 years ago.  Sad to see them go. You can hear Maryanna's music if you go to KFAI Fresh Air Radio's website (Google it).  Then go to their archives and find Corazon Latino for March 3rd, 2009.  It is a beautiful and fitting tribute to a great artist.  We all miss her.
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Querida Maryanna

A few hours ago I returned from the memorial service for my dear dear friend Mary Ann O'Dougherty.  She was hit and killed by a city bus eight days ago, on Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009. Close to 300 people packed the Loring Pasta Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a huge outpouring of grief, sadness and, above all, loving memories.  There was heartfelt emotive music.  There were eulogies, elegies, anecdotes, tears, and laughter.  Many of us sat numb, unable to speak for fear of totally losing it and becoming a blubbering mess. No one wanted to leave when it was over.  It just seemed too sad to return to a world so diminished by her loss.  So we lingered, exchanging embraces, having a drink, having something to eat. Mary Ann was a brilliant woman.  She read voraciously.  She traveled the world over.  She once owned a nightclub in Recife, Brazil.  She was fluent in Portuguese and sang--magnificently--in many languages.  She was so intense.  She was a brilliant educator and adored children. She found happiness in love when she met Steve Alm.  They were together nearly 18 years.  They were sooooooooo great together.  Such great friends.  Such commited lovers. Mary Ann could sell a song like nobody.  I loved to hear her sing.  I remember the very first time I heard her sing; it was 1984.  I recognized a kindred soul immediately.  We became fast friends and I cherished her friendship.  But now I cherish her friendship in a much much deeper way.  She is gone.  I miss her so. I will always love "A Song of Ireland."  And "Manha du Carnival."  And "Corcovado."  She sang Corcovado just a few weeks ago when a bunch of us were out and she sat in with the band at the local pub.  A place called Merlin's Rest.  It was exquisitely lovely, nothing less than that.  It was the last time I saw Mary Ann and the last time I heard her voice. I would be deeply honored and touched if anyone left their comments to this post....
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Random Thoughts Random Thoughts

Bit of blue sky and sunshine to lessen the winter doldrums. Check out my friend's blog:  norwegianity.wordpress.com.  He's Mark Gisleson and he's a political junkie/wonk/Mn Timberwolve's fan.  Republicans please enter at your own risk....Really great reading, witty, insightful, incendiary. Also:  my friends Pedro Cortes (brilliant flamenco guitarist) and Jesus Montoya (fine singer) are in town---that's Minneapolis town---for shows this weekend at the Ritz Theater.  zorongoflamenco.org for details.  Worth checking out.  I'm busy doing my round of club dates:  solo, with small flamenco ensemble, and with Mandragora Tango.  Check my calendar here on the site and try to catch a show of mine---see Pedro and Jesus first then come by and tell me all about it. MAD-TOWN FEVER STRIKES!  That's Madrid btw and I'm really needing to get over there.  Ironically, since buying my condo there 5 years ago, it has gotten more and more difficult to find the time to enjoy it.  I'm worried they're going to give up my seat at my favorite bars.... Madrid has 4 historic 18th century cafes that I frequent.  They are:  Cafe Central (also has great jazz), Cafe Barbieri (just steps from my front door), Cafe Commercial (in Malasaña which I love for its freakiness), and Cafe Giron'.  It's a GREAT CITY!! I'm soooooooooooo glad for the end of partisan politics in Washington......................yeah, right. OK.  I'm finally taking steps to learn tango dance.  Bad bad pun, I know. If you ever get a chance to see/hear Astor Piazzolla's opera "Maria de Buenos Aires"---do not miss it.  It is a masterpiece.  I was so fortunate to play in the ensemble when Theatre Juene Lune produced it a few years back.  This was, effectively, my introduction to tango and it has been an exciting ride ever since.  I've got a secret plan in the back of my head to somehow convince the Minnesota Opera to mount a production of Maria and to hire Mandragora Tango as the orchestra.... Mn Opera has become an excellent company in recent years.  Then there's the Chicago Lyric................
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Forever Memorable

I am, of course, alluding to the Inaugural events of yesterday. Such inspiring words.  Such an electrifying moment. The Simple Gifts setting was so perfect, the performance other-worldly. These are exciting, heady and intoxicating times. Last evening---playing with Mandragora Tango---we hosted our own Inaugural Ball here in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Loads of people turned out and it seemed everyone, Republicans,  Democrats, young, old, whatever the demographic, united in celebration. A couple of notes:  Mandragora Tango plays in Cocoa Beach, Florida this weekend.  I can say we are pumped up in anticipation of escaping this brutal Minnesota winter at least for a few days. Then on January 31st, I am participating in an event called the Flamenco Guitarathon.  It will be held at Sundin Hall, on the Hamline University campus in St Paul, Mn.  Starts at 8PM and features 6 guitarists plus singer.  It is presented by the Minnesota Guitar Society (612-677-1151 for tickets) and sold out last year so we're expecting a good turn out.  Fabulous acoustics in Sundin Hall. Mandragora Tango is currently recording our new CD---most likely it'll be self-titled.  We plan on it containing 3 song groupings (called "tandas") which is super user-friendly for tango dancers.  I'm confident the recording will showcase our very unique sound as a tango quartet that substitutes guitar---slashing, percussive, then moody, dreamy, modal, flamenkito---for piano.  I am very excited about this new CD....
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PALO.three.

This was written by my dear friend William Stille about 12 years ago.  He was an extremely talented painter, musician and craftsman.  He loved the siguiriyas palo and that is the inspiration for this poem.  He died by his own hand and I miss him. Siguiriya.  Bleeding voice    shredded    by swallowing broken glass   the dregs of love    calls into the night    alone    shivering    embarrassing the moon    en el cante    para mi es flamenco. Flailing hands    that long for knives    civilized frenzy    longing for torn flesh    and scattered roses    en el toque    para mi es flamenco. Heart    stuffed into a jar    smothered    bursting    with feet shouting    en el baile    para mi es flamenco.
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Palo.two.

Solea' por bulerias harken to the palma awaken shake off your torpor at least listen to the compas' better to let it hypnotize surround sound its insistant regular and oh-so-unhurried unworried march to a very different drum ancient rumors imaginings whisperings expressions of hope of survival of defiance of defiant survival! ageless timeless an arroyo quiet murmurs trickling its passage through eternity wars arise between powers in competition they are fought and won and lost and with countless numbers lost fallen buried unburied wept over and to what avail? To escape the madness la maldiccion' de la locura is to face the palo la solea' por buleria enter it feel it bleed it inhale it consume it subsume it.
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PALO. one.

In tribute to poema del cante jondo:  la solea' a garcia lorca Mother she lies buried not far from us all giver of life nurturer through infancy through adolescence inescapable reminder of my roots constant upholder of values now put away risen above finally overcome yet there they are and the vital force which infuses all coursing the veins of the solea' most majestic most proud timeless quejio so she intones throughout the ages my age shatters to nothingness my tiny weight felt a paper boat in the onrush ing current ever so slowly magic ascends i feel it too powerless to resist it is unnecessary A handful of tonos monotonously intone they enchant they encant they enchant beyond plane's timeless historic epochs the life as i know it i am in a very different ambient stark yes stark primitive completely and totally and so completely unaffected untouched unmoving serene unbroken la solea' each perfect delicate little remate unfolds to the next phrase la falseta rests a moment chiming her small voice connecting the dots time without end.
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So, I need your help here….

Winter came early to Minneapolis, Minnesota---no preamble, no warning---just here it is.: Take that, loser!  I AM NOT DEPRESSED ABOUT IT, OK?  I'm just feeling...a little...sensitive, shall we say? I'm doing some very nice holiday parties, some nice club dates, eating well, nice wine, playing a lot of guitar, life is good--- OK.  What I'm trying to say is...I've been writing poetry.  I call it "Palo" and it's an attempt to get at the deep stuff that underlies the flamenco forms.  Kinda like cross-training.  I'm not writing letras, no.  I'm trying to write about the way the form---be it solea' or siguiriyas or whatever---makes me feel and what I'm processing while I play it.  Not trying to be New-Agey or Renaissance Man.  I'm actually a little embarrassed by the whole thing.  Yet, there is a nagging little voice (I am no longer married so it must be my own....) saying, "Go on.  Get it out there.  You have a blog.  USE IT!" So, give me feed back.  I will stop.  I will nip it.  Or, with your kind consideration, dear reader, I will continue, at least for a while. And so, in a monumental leap of faith, HERE GOES!
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!OLE!

Yes.  A victory.  And, YES, a mandate.  Thrilling times! Last evening, as I watched the enormous crowd gathered in Grant Park, Chicago, I reconnected  with another time in my life that I felt truly PROUD to be American.  That was the historic moment when Jimmy Carter signed the Camp David Accords with Begin and Sadat---when was it?  1977?  I think that was it.  It was another thrilling and somehow defining moment for this country.  Well, it has been 31 years since I felt that patriotic tingle.  But, last evening, watching the hope-filled, exuberant gathering of tens of thousands, witnessing the love-fest on that platform in Grant Park and, most particularly, listening to Obama's gloriously soaring oratory---WOW!
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