A living legend of flamenco guitar in Fes

Paco De Lucia is a living legend of flamenco guitar, the likes of which are rarely seen. A world-renowned guitarist, the illustrious artist will perform on 9 June in Fes.

Paco De Lucia is among the great names of the music scene invited to the spiritual capital for its prestigious Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, scheduled from 7 to 15 June at various sites across the city.

The guitarist's concert is good news for flamenco aficionados, a genre this peerless artist has subtly mastered to the point of giving it a universal dimension.

Highly inspired, this guitar virtuoso has worked extensively on flamenco, managing with disconcerting and impressive ease to carry it towards new horizons. To the delight of fans of this musical genre, who see in him not only the legend he already is, but also the guardian of a music unlike any other.

Nothing surprising, observers of the global music scene would say. It must be said that from his first masterpiece titled “Fantasía flamenca” (1969) to the recordings of several themes by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, he has never ceased to surprise his peers. Proof of this can be found in his brilliant interpretation of Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, his famous rumba “Entre dos aguas”, and his album Ziryab, among others.

The least that can be said is that Paco De Lucia was also “the one who would transfigure the flamenco guitar, bringing it closer to a certain jazz, thanks to his collaborations with the world's greatest guitarists like Larry Coryell, John McLaughlin or Al Di Meola, or with the pianist and composer Chick Corea,” highlight the organisers of this major cultural event.

Coming from a family of musicians, his father and brothers (Ramón de Algeciras and Pepe de Lucia), a guitarist and cantaor respectively, Paco De Lucia was introduced to the guitar very early on. When he was only 5 years old, he was already passionate about the guitar and showed his interest in the instrument under the admiring gaze of his family. Then, over the years and with unparalleled self-sacrifice, he gradually perfected his skills, always pushing his curiosity further.

Without suspecting that he would become a guitar genius a few years later, he always dared to go beyond what he was taught.

In Fes, Paco De Lucia will be accompanied on stage by the great cantor Duquende, the dancer Farruco, Antonio Sanchez (second guitar), Antonio Serrano (keyboards), Alain Perez (bass), Piranha (percussion) and David de Jacoba (cante). A show not to be missed.

Provider / Source : Alain Bouithy, Libération