Eliseo Parra
El Man Sur (Mirmidón/Karonte, 2015)
Spanish folk music icon Eliseo Parra dedicates his album El Man Sur to his southern Spanish roots. For this reason, the influential singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and ethnomusicologist has recorded several songs based on various flamenco palos (subgenres), including fandangos, rondeñas, guajiras, bulerías, and alegrías. However, he clarifies that some of these genres precede flamenco and were adopted by flamenco.
Eliseo Parra also continues to explore the folk music of other parts of Spain with tunes from the north and one Portuguese song.
Even though the mix of traditional and original compositions are rooted in folk music, Eliseo Parra is well-known for taking Spanish folk music beyond tradition, incorporating modern arrangements that made it more accessible to new generations and urban hipsters.
Additionally Eliseo introduces musical instruments that normally don’t appear in traditional folk music. He frequently uses the Peñaparda square drum, a rare percussion instrument found in eastern Spain and Portugal. His regular band a collaborators play a wide range of instruments like the Indian bansuri flute,Basque-style accordion, lutes, piano, and of course lots of vocals.
Even though all the songs are really good, highlights include “A la zarzamora” a song that celebrates the blackberry, featuring harmony vocals, flamenco guitar and cool jazz trumpet; the intimate “Llarón” with a beautiful mix of vocals, Spanish and electric guitar, and moxeños (low flute). But the finest song of all is the scrumptious “Eres Zorro” a composition that mixes, bhangra, funk and Andalusian music with an irresistible beat.
The lineup on El Man Sur includes Eliseo Parra on lead and harmony vocals, pandero de Peñaparda (square frame drum), tambourines, lutes, guitar, guitarro (small Spanish guitar), palmas (handclap percussion), and harmonium; Eduardo Laguillo on piano; Josete Ordóñez on Spanish guitar, electric guitar and mandola; Xavi Lozano on moxeños, tiple, kaval, chirimia, saxophone; Guillem Aguilar on bass; Aleix Tobias on percussion; and Pablo Martin on percussion and palmas.
Guests include Kepa Junkera on accordion; Diego Galaz on violin; Roqui Albero on trumpet; Luismi Novas on clarinet; David Torrico on vocals, Paloma González on vocals; Carmen Terrón on vocals; and Las Piojas on vocals.
Eliseo Parra was born in Sardón de Duero (Valladolid) in 1949. He started as a rock drummer and vocals in the 1960s and later worked with well-known folk music artists from various parts of Mediterranean Spain like Maria del Mar Bonet, Al Tall, la Sardineta, La Platería, Ovidi Montllor, Gato Pérez, Marina Rossell and Jaume Sisa.
In 1983 he relocated to Madrid where he started to research Castilian music. He founded a band called Mosaico that released two albums, including a tribute to Castilian music folklorist Agapito Marazuela.
Since 1990, Eliseo Parra has had a solo career, recreating Spanish folk music under a contemporary perspective, adding global music elements as well as jazz and rock. Eliseo has also carried out ethnological field work along with José Manuel Fraile Gil. The result of this research has appeared in various books about Madrid-area traditions: Romancero tradicional de la provincia de Madrid, Cuentos de la tradición oral madrileña, La poesía infantil en la tradición madrileña, and El mayo y sus fiestas en tierras madrileñas.
The CD version comes with lyrics and credits in Spanish along with some English language translations.
Digital download version of El Man Sur
CD version of El Man Sur
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
