Friday, 28 November at Smith’s Alternative sees a magical melding of two magnificent musical minds in Flamenco Legacy.
For the first time, Grammy-winning legend of flamenco jazz, Maestro Jorge Pardo, is flying in from Spain to join great guitarist Paco Lara for a night that will see the city pulse with the soul of flamenco.
Spanish flautist and saxophonist Jorge Pardo and virtuoso flamenco guitarist Paco Lara fuse jazz and flamenco with fiery improvisations and emotional melodies.
Known for his stunning and soothing music, the Spanish native has created an ambitious evening that also features energetic Flamenco dancing, multiple instruments, and original lyrical songs.
Paco describes Flamenco as more than just music, “It’s a culture. It’s a language. It’s a tradition. The main thing is the music, of course, but it’s a very rich music about rhythm more than about harmony or about technical skills. It is full of expression and drama.”
Flamenco has deep historical roots in Spain, but it also evolved from a fusion of different cultures. “It’s very related to the gypsies, and now it’s mixed with a Spanish culture as well. It’s become a big mix now. It’s [energy is] found in almost any culture that’s suffered in the past. It all comes from that suffering and coming together to make happiness.“
His musical partner for the evening, Jorge Pardo, is one of the most sought-after figures in the Spanish music scene, having come to prominence through more than 30 years of collaboration with Paco and his legendary Sextet.
Born in Madrid, Spain, Jorge’s first professional recording was with Las Grecas in 1975, later recording with the Dolores band with Pedro Ruy-Blas. It was here that Jorge was introduced to Paco de Lucía, with whom he toured worldwide and recorded many albums. During this time, he also met Camarón and recorded La Leyenda del Tiempo, an album that revolutionised flamenco forever.
Renowned for being the first person to incorporate flute and sax into flamenco, Pardo explored this fusion via seminal recordings with the legendary Camaron de la Isla.
As such, Jorge set the template for instruments other than the traditional guitar in flamenco, creating a new and entirely distinct dimension of this ancient tradition.
He’s worked extensively with Chick Corea (The Spanish Heart Band & Touchstone), winning the 2020 Grammy award for Corea’s album, Antidote.
In 2012, he was awarded the Best European Jazz Musician award by the Academie Francaise du Jazz, and his 2023 release, Trance Sketches, won Best Jazz Album at MIN in Spain. Jorge collaborates continuously with all of the top figures in flamenco as well as with artists from other genres, including but not limited to: Astrud Gilberto, Gil Goldstein, Pat Metheny, Tete Montoliu, Ambi Subramanian, and Nana Caimmy.
Two extraordinary musicians, one shared passion: to move you with the very best of flamenco art. It’s a night not to be missed!
