Pepe Habichuela (1944, Granada) is a survivor. Sometimes he remember me to Serranito because, against the supremacy of the Cadiz's school of guitarists in the evolution of flamenco guitar in the second part of the XX century, from Granada and Madrid, they were there loyal to their roots.
You cannot compare Serranito or Pepe Habichuela with Paco de Lucía because, simply, they are totally different. the solutions of the these three great masters are different because he learnt from different schools of flamenco. But, for me, Pepe is the the most human. Pepe has not this hallo of superhuman guitarist. He had never a long list of singles and LPs.
For me Pepe is the old flamenco, Pepe is the flamenco of guitarist and singer, Pepe is the root of flamenco. When I was young I heard thousand times the Morente's tribute to Antonio Chacon. I fell in love with the guitar of Pepe Habichuela and those hundred notes that adorn the voice of Morente each second. You can felt the so special and convenient world and gipsy environment creaded by Pepe Habichuela for the singer. One of these magic cantaor-tocaor tamdems as Camaron and Tomatito.
When I saw the first score of Pepe and it was incredible. ¿Where were the picados?... there were but the most important there was the arpegio. Arpegio everywhere with all the finguer, only with the thum, with free notes, open arpegios, with small picados, ... An incredible arabesque of elabotated falsetas some of them stemming from his grandfather: "Habichuela el Viejo", pupil of Patiño, or from great masters as Sabicas. Contrary to other falsetas some of them are classical falsetas whose cutting edges has been erosed by the time from their original version to a fine relationship of sounds. Even his famous 'two finger rasgueado’ comes from a derivative version of childhood exercises in the guitar. His playing is also full of wondderful rasgueados, esence of flamenco guitar, while other guitarists forgot that flamenco is primary rhythm.
May be, this is the reasons because Pepe is so great in the accompaniment. A very personal sound between modenr and primitive sounds, and an incredible techique stripped of fireworks and without ostentation mixed with tradition, afruit of work and perseverance. A ralentless machine to acconpain singers where the 'cante' is starring by the singuer always, as well with young singuers.
Of course, experimental flamenco is there with Dave Holland, Bollywood... But sometimes people forgotten other important indirect contributions as the recruitment of his nephew Antonio Carmona for as peruvian box player in the beginning of this instrument.
If the guitar Paco de Lucía invited you to listen to his music, the guitar of Pepe Habichuela invites you to sing. She is asking you to participate in a curl spectacle of sound and a fantastic flamenco musical environment created by his fingers. Every time that I hear a solea of siguirilla from Pepe my throat wants start with an 'Ayy'
Just enjoy Pepe and the true echoes of flamenco.
Soleá - Pepe Habichuela (instrumental)
Siguirilla - Rocío Marquez / Pepe Habichuela.
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