If you were in Spain in the 1970s, you probably are! He put lots of poetry to music, Garcia Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Goytisolo, etc etc. His voice was reedy and enchanting.

I am living in Lisbon this year and was looking on the Lisbon cultural calendar, and saw to my great surprise that Paco Ibanez is performing in Lisbon next week. He must be in his 70s now, but I quickly snatched up two tickets.

I don't know how his voice has aged, but for me it will be more of a nostalgia event than anything else. And if he doesn't sing "Andaluces de Jaen" I will be very sad.

If you're going to be in Lisbon next Friday (the 9th), I would highly recommend it.

Laurie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxeFEBSAOUs

in 2002 he still had his audience singing along...

Laurie,
Now, how did you know? His one of my favorite cantautores, along with Juan Manuel Serrat. My favorite album of his is the one with his interpretations of poems by García Lorca-"el largarto está llorando", "por las ramas del laurel" and "la señorita del abanico". Also "que se nos va la pascua, mozas" by Luis de Góngora.

Thanks for the reminder! I haven't listened to that album in quite a while-time to get it out again.

Make that "He's one of my favorite,,.,"

He must be on tour, but I don't see a tour schedule.

For those who enjoy his music, he'll also be in Barcelona performing at the Palau de la Música on Jan. 22 at 9 pm-part of the Festival Mil-Lenni.

www.palaumusica.org

I really loved Serrat's music, too. And how about Lluis Llach? I just saw that the two of them are also continuing with performances, in fact, Serrat appears to have performed in Carnegie Hall in November!

Hi laurie,
We must be the same age and have spent time in Madrid during the same years!

Yes, I do enjoy Luis Llach's music. I used to play all of the 3 artists' recordings to my students, particularly the poetry renditions. We once (way back in time) made a field trip to Carnegie Hall to attend a Joan Manuel Serrat concert, were allowed backstage and my students (and teacher, of course) were able to get his autograph!

Hi, Maribel,

Painful as it may be to admit it, I lived in Madrid in 1970-71 and 1972-73, and then I lived in Barcelona for a year in 1976-77. But after that, I never went back to Spain till 1995, when I was lucky enough to bring my family over, and boy was that a total shock.

I am now going to keep track of Joan Manuel Serrat and Lluis Llach, because I would love to hear them sing again. I'll report back on the Paco Ibanez concert, which I am looking forward to very much!

Laurie

Hi laurie,
Our paths must have crossed then somewhere between '70-'73 when I was a college student living in Madrid.
Enjoy the concert and hope that he sings Andaluces de Jaén for you!

Hi, Maribel,
I guess this thread has turned into a memory walk for you and me!

But I was curious -- where in Madrid did you live? I was in an apartment on Galileo 82 (Second C to be exact!), both in 1970 and 1972-3. (near the intersection with Fernandez de los Rios) When I returned there in 1995, I was shocked to see how it had changed. When I was there in the 70s, there were donkeys a few buildings down on the other side of the street, a bodega where we brought our empty bottles and got refills for 14 pesetas, panaderias, and a few little ultramarinos stores with great chorizo and cheese! When I went back, there were fancy hairdressers, a telemovil store, and no shops selling food anywhere that I could see.

I'll let you know if I get to enjoy Andaluces de Jaen! Laurie

Yes, what a great memory walk!

My apartment was on María de Molina 16, between the Castellana and Serrano, closer to Serrano. While I was living there, Carlos Saura filmed his movie Cría Cuervos (with Ana Torrent) in the very lugubrious looking mansion right across the street. I could see it from my bedroom window and was fascinated by it-seemed like such a mysterious place, filled with intrigue and I imagined the strange characters that might have inhabited the place.

When I walk around the neighborhood now, like you, I find myself lamenting the loss of those old neighborhood shops that I used to frequent daily, including the lingerie shop where I used to take my medias to get repaired.
A run in your stockings? No problem-the lady just repaired them, sewed them up for a few pesetas. You would never, never throw them away when they could be repaired, my mother taught me! Back then, absolutely nothing was wasted! (And we had a coal stove in the tiny kitchen).

Well, maybe some things are better left as memories. I'm sure my voice doesn't sound any better now than it did 35 years ago, but then I don't charge 20E to anyone who wants to hear me sing.

But it was worth it for the nostalgia, though he sang neither Andaluces de Jaen nor my other favorite, A Galopar (based on a beautiful poem by Rafael Alberti). But what really made my night was going home after the show, getting on the internet, and listening to him singing all my favorites when his voice was still strong!