Chicuelo - Marco Mezquida + Paco de Lucía Legacy
Chicuelo - Marco Mezquida: Del alma
Marco Mezquida (piano), Juan Gómez "Chicuelo" (guitar), Paco de Mode (percussion)
Two colossal musicians, true stars on their own and in their own right, who met in 2016 and immediately connected, deeply. It was artistic love at first sight between two kindred musical souls: Mezquida from the world of Jazz and classical music, and Chicuelo from the world of flamenco. That union bore special fruit, in perfect equilibrium, giving us, today, a trilogy of wonderful records (Paco de Mode on percussion, with that special wood and metal touch of his) that have won the hearts of audiences on stages all over the world. Two years after their first work, Conexión (2017), came No hay dos sin tres (2019), deeper, more mature, which already clearly foreshadowed what would be their third album, Del alma (2024), which takes us back to that deep and personal space, the natural place of abode of both musicians.
Juan Gómez ‘Chicuelo’ is one of the most outstanding flamenco guitarists around today, as well as one of the most prolific and interesting composers of the last generations. His beginnings can be traced back to Cornellà de Llobgregat, at the age of 12, with guitarist and luthier, Casimiro Gonzalez. Since then, Chicuelo has not stopped creating and producing, has worked in the Tablao de Carmen, with Mario Escudero, Angelita Vargas, La Tolea, Eva Yerbabuena, Sara Baras, Adrián Galia, Belén Maya, Antonio ‘El Pipa’, Joaquín Grilo, among other artists. He has usually been the guitarist for, among others, Miguel Poveda and Duquende, Enrique Morente, Mayte Martín, Rancapino, La Susi, La Marelu, Chano Lobato, José Mercé, El Cigala, Potito and Carmen Linares. He has also worked with Jazz musicians such as Chano Domínguez, Carles Benavent, Jorge Pardo, Jordi Bonell and Raynald Colom; he has directed record productions and recorded works for artists like Ginesa Ortega, Miguel Poveda, Duquende, Mayte Martín, Joan Manuel Serrat, La Vargas Blues Band, Antonio Carmona and Jordi Bonel; he has also released the following records on his own: Cómplices (2000), Diapasión (2007) and Uña y carne (2019); he has composed music for the flamenco dance companies of the most renowned artists, such as Antonio Canales and Israel Galván, and for films such as Blancanieves, directed by Pablo Berger.
Though not yet 40, Minorcan musician Marco Mezquida is one of the most acclaimed musicians today in all of Spain. An artist who always seemed destined to triumph on any stage anywhere in the world. Eclectic and “chameleonic”, a brilliant composer, pianist, improviser and director. He has recorded over twenty albums of his own, leading the project, and participated in the recording of over forty more, as part of diverse projects, with the best musicians. He has performed in major auditoriums, concert halls and Jazz festivals in over thirty-five countries. He has worked with Jazz legends like Lee Konitz and Dave Liebman. He has formed groups with artists such as guitarist Chicuelo, singer Silvia Pérez Cruz and dancer Sol Pico. He has participated in projects such as Beethoven Collage, the Pieris trio, and the MAP trio. And his highly lauded piano solo concerts, in which he always shows his powerful gifts as a composer and his ability to improvise, are there for all to see. He has also composed and recorded the music for two successful, decorated theatre productions by Julio Manrique, among other collaborations. In his stunning musical career thus far, he has already won some ten major awards, among them the City of Barcelona Award, several Enderrock Awards for best album of the year, and musician of the year on four occasions, bestowed upon him by the Catalan Jazz and Modern Music Musicians Association (AMJM).
Paco de Lucía Legacy
Josemi Carmona (guitar), Chano Domínguez (piano), Duquende (vocals), Farru (dance), Antonio Lizana (sax and vocals), Alaín Pérez (bass), Israel Suarez "Piraña" (cajón), Antonio Rey (guitar), Antonio Sánchez (guitar)
Paco de Lucía was a musician who crossed borders. Surely the best flamenco guitarist of all time. A legendary composer, producer and performer, who played and recorded with Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Carlos Santana and Al Di Meola, and revolutionized the genre to the point of changing it forever. This show fuses the past, present and future of flamenco, with a handful of musicians who aim to celebrate the life and work of Paco de Lucía and show how his creative DNA blended styles such as jazz, classical music and African music.
