One might be forgiven for thinking there's inter-theatre rivallry afoot, in that Juan Martin at the Playhouse this week might easily borrow the description of the line-up at the New Theatre: "sexy, devilish musical". This display of Flamenco was by turns devilish and sublime, most certainly sexy, and utterly transporting. It was no longer a hot sticky night in Oxford, but a hot sticky night in Andalucia.
We started, in a packed theatre, with a solo piece. It conjured up the hoofbeats, the footsteps, a crowded gathering, in a way that was almost more real than the real thing. The Taranta and Fandango were fast and furious. It was impossible to believe one man coul produce percussion, melody and harmony, with constantly accelerating rhythms. The stage was bathed in red light, and the dark shapes of chairs and instruments could almost have been nomads seated round a campfire. Sadly this was the only solo piece in the show, but it held the audience spellbound.
The rest of the band appeared - two dancers, a singer, woodwind player and drummer. Both dancers were very watchable, dancing together and separately, but El Tigre stood out especially! With his wolf-whistle tributes it was clear I was not the only female in the audience who appreciated his camp machismo and masterful movements. Clearly a consummate show-off he managed to leave the stage last in both curtain calls! His footwork was sublime, defying gravity and shimmering on his heels, and sudden pauses held the collective breath of the audience.
The Sephardic songs showed off the guitar and woodwind duet, though the miking for the woodwind was too quiet and so the balance was somewhat lost. These songs seemed like the Madrigals of the Flamenco world, lilting and haunting. The Flamenco singer, Antonio, sang for some of the dances, with a voice as rough and tender as a cat's tongue. I would love to understand the words, but the sound alone was evocative of a strange and secret world. The drummer added complex rhythms and played cymbals with his hands. The Rumba series showed the trio of guitar, woodwind and drums, echoing and weaving in and out of each other's melodies and rhythms.
Juan's succint and pithy comments put the history of Flamenco in context - from its roots in the Moorish settlers and the expulsion of the Gypsies from Spain. From some bloody events came the beginnings of this fiery, passionate and beautiful music.
The performance was incredibly intimate for such a big space, perhaps because the performers seemed so at ease and slick. The dances were either tightly rehearsed, or the performers very used to each other - the pauses, the changes of tempo all fitted perfectly. And the performers came and went, sitting in on each other's numbers, perching on a percussive box, providing extra intricacy and complementary rhythms, interjecting "Ole!" and saluting each other in tribute. It didn't feel like a concert, but a privileged glimpse of a different world. Perfect for a summer's night. We danced home.
Jenny Pawsey, 05/06/07
Virtuoso Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin raises the roof in a sold-out performance at the Oxford Playhouse with his Rumba compositions. Whilst the heart of Flamenco lies in the songs (or cantes), the music is accompanied by the heel clicks of show-stopping or dances (or bailes). Flamenco music styles (palos) performed include Alegrias and Solea as the two Flamenco dancers fill the stage with the steps of Farruca and Flamenco tango. The hand clapping (palmas) and foot stamping (zapateado) is performed in strict rotation by the group offering rousing rhythms that are mesmerising. The energy of the on stage Flamenco unit reaches out to inspire the audience. Many of the female audience members glitter with sequinned scarves whilst the male patrons are quick to jump to their feet with richly deserved spontaneous cries of Ole! This is an evening that unites the audience as the spirit of Flamenco evokes much warmth in our hearts.
From Martin’s Southern Spanish house he tells us ‘on a clear day you can see Morocco’. This is a view that translates to the Moorish roots of Flamenco he explores in his fusion music. Cuban influences flow too through Martin’s compositions as he traces Spanish history and the origin of this Art form through his concert. Juan Martin’s brief narration between songs outlines Spain’s dramatic history. He tells us that the spirit of the Gypsy must always soar regardless of the oppression encountered for example by the Spanish Inquisition. As the group of Flamenco musicians on stage observe an unspoken musical etiquette it is obvious Flamenco is tightly bound to the traditions of Andalucia. With the European community developing its own style of modernisation one wonders how the future for this regional tradition will pan out. However, the purity with which this classical musician delivers attracts many high profile collaborations with modern music giants such as Jeff Beck. As Martin muses on the difference between ‘Artistic’ and ‘Arty’ people, the timeless quality of this superb evening of entertainment becomes apparent.
Lita Doolan, 04/06/07
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