One of Spain’s best known flamenco singers, Enrique Morente, has died, after complications following surgery in Madrid on December due to
brain haemorrhage after the original operation which was for cancer of the oesophagus.
Described by many as ‘the last flamenco poet’, he was nevertheless one of the grand renovators of the art, always pushing the boundaries where he could. His talent for innovation was recognised with a Medalla de Oro al Mérito de las Bellas Artes.
Among his grand achievements was the ‘Omega’ album in 1996, which was re-released last year. Recorded with the rock band Lagartija Nick, and artists such as Vicente Amigo and Tomatito, never did Leonard Cohen sound so flamenco, or did Federico García Lorca’s lyrics be read with such passion. He even sung with ‘The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices’, and worked with Khaled, Ute Lemper and Pat Metheny among others.
Enrique Morente was currently possibly the most reputed musician of flamenco, and one of the very prime figures in Spanish music. I was lucky enough to see one of his peaks of all time: his collaboration with the rock band Lagartija Nick, Omega, in a live gig which is among the most impressing music shows I have ever seen.
Carlitos
Tenerife

Keep the flamenco coming, Carlitos! A valued contribution to this forum.

Agreed. I'm listening to the first video in another window and it's superb.

Excuses for those don´t understand or like flamenco, but there are lots of reminiscences the way Keith and Mick play, in my opinion, the passion it´s superb believe me. He really collaborate with tons of artist and styles.

Carlitos
Tenerife

And an example´s a tribute in a concert with Michael Jackson in those days he died as well

with another band 5 duros

With Cheb Khaled,

With Chambao,

With Lagartija Nick

In big festivals,

With Estrella Morente his daughter, superb!!

Morente, Jondísimo MAESTRO,

"In Morente recognize the revolutionary innovator. The student of the tradition. The accomplice of the poets. The notary insurgent a time when intellectual progressives and academics should be understood. But above all, Morente is the lament of Granada. The sound of the stones and lights. The latency of a city building named hand pump. So local, so universal "

Granada by the hoarse cries of the Albaicin. The goblin is in mourning. The voice loses jondura free. And the rock, your employer adventurer. Pornography in agony and informative. Morente was dying halfway. He leaves half. Because the work is: tons of great art, exciting, popular as a cult. A huge legacy, but truncated at the peak of inspiration and experience. It hurts to write these lines in the heart of Granada the scene, one step away from the slope of the Boilers and San Gregorio street, where he was born almost 69 years. Where, in those terrible five in the shade in the afternoon, the bells stopped playing yesterday in the churches. Beacon falls, indecent model of transgression. The avant-garde. Lorca's brother.

In Morente recognize the revolutionary innovator. The student of the tradition. The accomplice of the poets. The notary insurgent a time when intellectual progressives and academics should be understood. But above all, Morente is the lament of Granada. The sound of the stones and lights. The latency of a city building named hand pump. So local, so universal. He understood Frederick and put wings on their verses. Completed the dialogue initiated by Lorca and Manuel de Falla in the Concurso de Cante Jondo in 1922. In addition, typing the mysteries of the Alhambra. Inquiring Minds lit to pop-rock circuit.

Thanks to the eagerness of Lorca's metaphors ultraísmo intermarry with Andalusian folk songs, poets sought flamenco. Then was Morente who explored the poetry from the language of flamenco. And stepped on quicksand: Pedro Garfias, Jose Bergamin, Jose Hierro and Luis Rius, which bind to the sublimation of Alberti, Miguel Hernandez and the Machado brothers.

In the maze albaicinero, many recall the neighbor Morente. And longed for her singing from the balcony next to the Mirador de San Nicolas. Or, a few blocks up in the San Miguel Lane. Also in the bars, the space in which were forged some of its milestones. Bulerías improvised by Eric Jimenez at a bar gave rise to "Omega" (1996), the most famous album Morente. It's that simple. Or chess games in the circle, the core of songwriters and poets from the new sentimentality of Luis García Montero. It was open roads and ride the path of learning. Reinventing Chekara folklore with the orchestra of Tetuan, immersed in medieval Gregorian away from the Bulgarian Voices, or dreaming of the Alhambra with Pat Metheny, Khaled and Ute Lemper. No false hybridizations. According to Miguel Clavero, chairman of the rock The Silver, "Morente recorded avant-garde and risky work, but in-depth study before all the clubs. Moreover, his albums are absolute musical wealth. What happens is that sells well and flamenco cante flamenco sell less. " Everyone remembers his social commitment, his kindness and multicultural integration.

The same 2010, the Diputación de Granada and Federico García Lorca Cultural Trust put in circulation the adaptation of the famous elegy "Lament for the Death of Ignacio Sanchez Mejias." As the maturity Cohen, Morente introduce their own electronic percussion, background vocal harmonics and drum beats of Eric Jimenez. The final mantra experimental evidence his hunger to the last pinch. Traceable in setting oddities during this decade by the less exposed Picasso.

In the bars of Granada, a young and marginalized in desktop publishing enjoyed opportunities to earn a collaboration of Morente. Recently vouch for that were 5 Hard rockers, who sold the plate appearance on "12 cuts" (2009). Mr. Chinarro benefited from one of his walks through the bomb shelter of J in "friendly fire" (2004). The same goes for Amaral in "Birds in the Head" (2005) or diffuse concerts with Sonic Youth-viewers in Brooklyn to the shows of "Omega" -. In contrast, brilliantly exploited Planets lysergic connection in "The Legend of Space" (2007) - "There should be an camino'" and "Next Month" (2010) - 'The Golden Key', 'Pastor divina'-where common passions by Syd Barrett, Manuel Vallejo and Antonio Chacón sway a sort of psychedelic flamenco. And in between, interventions characters related titles such as The South Barber, Chano Domínguez and, of course, the Bean.

However, Morente will always be associated with "Omega", a concept based on the poem that closes "Poet in New York." Antonio Arias Lizard Nick understood that represent the noise of the big city, while Morente was the voice of the blood. The chemistry between them is monumental. Lorca and Cohen. Stridency and surrealism. The perfect circle. Pure fission. Elected by a glossy painted flamingo, "Omega" holds true harmonic influences beyond the Philistine topic that calls him trash metal and flamenco. 'City without sleep', for example, after-punk mystical past as a Joy Division acid. "Omega" is an album of new flamenco. Is reading "Poet in New York." With hammers, tangos and other styles, resulting in the ordered chaos of Lorca. Morente's career would be liberated from corsets amplified and art since then.

Now, start searching profuse Morentin material. As one very limited black vinyl, "Enrique Morente in the house-museum of Federico García Lorca in Fuente Vaqueros", which is paid at the time 25,000 pesetas. Only a couple of weeks, Morente frenzy was in full labor. There versioning 'Fallen Angel' by Antonio Vega and fulfilled his dream of singing in front of the 'Guernica' in the Reina Sofia to mark the filming of "Morente, Picasso's barber." Because flamenco Picasso had digested a life of music and experiences. He had much to teach. Rabies: no, was not his time yet. And now what?
Link, [www.efeeme.com]

Estrella Morente, Enrique Morente daughter singing at the funeral...