Search - Paco Ibanez :: Paco Ivanes V.1

Paco's Straight Road to Our Hearts!

Maximiliano F Yofre | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 11/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paco Ibanez (1934) is one of the greatest Spanish folk singer and guitarist.

After the end of Spain's civil war he and his family were forced into exile to France. There he was trained as ebonist and started to study violin and guitar.

In 1956 he joined flamenco singer Carmela as her guitar companion and toured Europe.

At the end of the `50s, Paco started to musicalize poetic composition from classic Spanish poets as Gongora and from Federico Garcia Lorca. This was an immediate success and defined Paco's career. He was soon doing the same with poetry from Alberti, Goytisolo, Manrique, Quevedo and many more.



The present CD contains a wonderful selection of poems sang by Paco with his unique tone of voice launched directly to audience's heart.

Starting with Lorca's (1898-1936) "Cancion de Jinete" ("Riders Song") where his powerful imagery erupts: "black moon, knife flower perfume, spurs singing".

Continue with more verses from the same author: a song for children, "El Lagarto esta Lorando" ("The Lizard is Crying").

Next a notable poem from Lorca's "Gipsy Song Book": "Romance de la Luna, Luna" ("Moon's Romance"), is a song dedicated to a dying gipsy boy, where death is impersonated by the Moon.

Songs 4 to 6 also pertains to Lorca genius. Usually Paco starts all his recitals with "Mi Niña se fue a la Mar" ("My Little Girl is Gone to the Seashore").



Now Don Luis de Gongora's (1521-1627) poems are the raw material for Paco's voice: "La Más Bella Niña" ("The Prettiest Girl") and the next two also. They are a more philosophical stuff, reflecting about the loss of youth and running out of time.

Closing the CD is a joyful note: "Bien puede Ser, No puede Ser" ("It is Possible, It is Not Possible") a satire about doctors, husbands and wives, fathers and daughters.

All these beautiful modern and classic poems are sang by Paco, with his strange, deep and warm voice.

Do not miss this gem!

Reviewed by Max Yofre."