THE INTERNATIONALLY renowned virtuoso flamenco ‘cantaor’ José Parra returns to Galway for a concert at the Black Box on Saturday December 6 at 8pm.
Stylistically, José Parra weaves a path between pure flamenco and the fast-paced bulerias, his superb singing regularly evoking comparisons with flamenco legend Camarón de la Isla.
José started singing in flamenco circles and ‘peñas’ (flamenco clubs ) at a very young age. He soon stood out for singing in the most ‘jondo’ fashion, always basing himself on the cante of Camarón, his great reference. He won several contests in Andalusia and Catalonia before recording his first album in 1990, Flamenco.
However, success would come six years later with Palabras de Pasión, a record which, together with the Miner’s Lamp Award of the 1995 La Unión Festival, confirmed him as a cantaor. Afterwards, he recorded De Arena Y Coral and Se Lleva El Alma, both also with Fods Records, with Remedios Amaya collaborating on the latter album.
José has also done outstanding collaborations at the same time as his solo recitals. Among his collaborative highlights are his longtime participation in the group of renowned guitarist Vicente Amigo, with whom he premiered Concierto Para Un Marinero En Tierra, a musical tribute to Rafael Alberti. In 2003 he recorded his fourth album, Luna Mora, with the collaboration of Pedro Sierra, Tomatito, and La Tobala.
José has many awards all over the world during his 20-year career, naming two of the most important as first prize at the Union Festival 1995 and first prize at the Yununque de Plata 1992.
This award-winning artist now brings his Camaronesque talent to the spectacular surroundings of The Black Box in Galway. He will be accompanied by the international guitarist El Macareno and the international dancer Jorge del Pino.
El Macareno was born in Cordoba and has been playing guitar for 25 years, and has performed all over the world while Jorge del Pino both dances and plays cajon.
All in all, it promises to be a magical evening not to be missed!
Tickets are €25/22.50 and are available from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777.
