The old men say that January is the worst month for singing. They say that larynxes and bronchioles always end up in \u201cit is<\/i>\u201d, and voices acquire the blank, cloudy sky\u2019s greyish hue. This may be true up north, but not in flamenco country. Here we have El Carbonerillo and Manuel Torres, who recorded songs just before tuberculosis closed their lungs forever. They were no longer in their prime, of course, but had the same depth as always and even more feel, if that\u2019s even possible.<\/p>\n
The members of Pe\u00f1a Pozo de la Penas<\/i> say that this pe\u00f1a<\/i>in Los Palacios is the oldest in Spain, even older than La Plater\u00eda in Granada, although the latter was registered first. Let\u2019s see how this could be proven, \u201cit is so, trust me, we are the oldest pe\u00f1a<\/i>!\u201d. What we can attest is the vintage vibe we got since we came in, in each photograph, in each corner of this very small white pellizco on Cantarranas Street. Today, Ezequiel is singing, it\u2019s the first time he comes here. \u201cNo, we never have microphones here. Try sitting next to me\u201d.<\/p>\n
The first notes of the evening are por alegr\u00edas<\/i>, courtesy of the guitar of Francisco Le\u00f3n Gallardo Paco Le\u00f3n\u00a0<\/b>(born in Puerto de Santa Mar\u00eda in 1991). They say his guitar was made of rosewood and cypress by Jer\u00f3nimo P\u00e9rez, luthier from Algodonales, and that it was a gift from Paco Cepero. Gentlemen, let\u2019s listen. The imposing Ezequiel Ben\u00edtez<\/b> owns the scene from his wood and bulrush chair, with his red beard and indelible smile. The small space with black wooden beams throws a veil of respect over the attendees, who from then on will stay connected to the WiFi of the voice of this cantaor<\/i> from Jerez.<\/p>\n
These are alegr\u00edas de Aurelio Sell\u00e9<\/i>, the master of masters from C\u00e1diz. Traditional and original lyrics pour out from the mouth of this cantaor<\/i>, who some say was born in C\u00e1diz by accident. La gracia viene de C\u00e1diz, y de Jerez el comp\u00e1s, yo canto por alegr\u00edas para poderte olvidar<\/i>.<\/p>\n
The same goes for the tientos<\/b> de Enrique el Mellizo<\/i>, which are given a very personal imprint by Ezequiel, who links the verses in an impossible way. This cantaor<\/i> from Jerez\u2019s Santiago district has had bronchitis for two weeks, but those who don\u2019t know don\u2019t even notice. The chapel of silence finally loses it, and it can\u2019t help but throwing bunches of oles<\/i> to the celebrants of this flamenco liturgy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll sing a little por sole\u00e1<\/i>\u201d. \u201cJust watch the honey coming out of Paco Le\u00f3n\u2019s guitar\u201d. So young and so experienced at the same time. He has finally found is own sound. A tribute to T\u00eda Mar\u00eda Bala, sister of Manuel Soto Monje El Sordera de Jerez<\/i>. What a feeling Ezequiel gives to the sole\u00e1 de El Chozas de Jerez<\/i>. Yes, he wasn\u2019t from Jerez, he was from Lebrija. Ezequiel sings the verse \u201dte voy a sacar del convento<\/i>\u201d and the crowd goes wild.<\/p>\n
From here until the end, all are committed. Fandangos del Ni\u00f1o Gloria<\/i> y and fandangos de Pepe Pinto<\/i> with Ezequiel\u2019s own lyrics. He then sings several tangos<\/b><\/i>, among which those of Pastora Pav\u00f3n stand out, even as they feel a little forced and his voice is getting tired. Then come the seguiriyas de Jerez<\/i>, with a magnificent closing in the Curro Dulce style. The icing on the cake are the buler\u00edas del Chozas<\/i> and the buler\u00edas de la Bolola<\/i>, where Ezequiel made use of his charisma and \u201cgalater\u00eda<\/i>\u201d, that mixture of spark, eroticism, double meaning and wit that is sorely missing in today\u2019s flamenco. Like in that verse, \u201cYo le pido a las mujeres que conmigo gasten cuidadito, y no me ense\u00f1en el conejo negr\u00f3n, que saco yo mi escopet\u00f3n, y, se\u00f1orita que le pego yo un tiro, pon, pon, pon<\/i>\u201d.<\/p>\n
Event notes<\/i>:<\/p>\n
Recital: Quimeras del tiempo: Recuer2<\/b>
\nPlace and date: Pe\u00f1a Flamenca Pozo de las Penas<\/i><\/b>, Los Palacios y Villafranca (Seville)
\nDate: January 25th, 2019<\/b>
\nCante<\/i>: Ezequiel Ben\u00edtez<\/b>
\nGuitar: Paco Le\u00f3n<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The cantaor from Jerez presented his album Quimeras del tiempo: Recuer2 with a wonderful recital in the iconic Pe\u00f1a Pozo de las Penas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,71],"tags":[162],"class_list":["post-7549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chronicles","category-shows","tag-ezequiel-benitez-en"],"yoast_head":"\n