Jake Mossman
Flamenco & Classical Guitar
Flamenco is a very personal journey for me. While it is a deep and lasting core of musical and dance traditions from Andalucia, Spain, it is also an ever evolving and flourishing art form, which has absorbed, and will continue to absorb other musical styles from all over the world. It is still true though that without tradition, it is not Flamenco, so while innovation is constantly occurring, Flamenco is also continuously celebrating its roots, its families and its traditions. It is a running language which continuously comments on itself, and possibly more than any other musical style, lends itself to "borrowing" and "recycling" of musical phrases. Every joke has a punchline, and punchlines aren't funny without context. The cadences of Flamenco are those contextual punchlines. As a Classically trained guitarist, I had to work hard over the years to un-train myself and approach Flamenco guitar as it should be approached - as an accompaniment to the cante (singing) and baile (dancing). I spent many years accompanying dance classes and then performing in a cuadro (ensemble) prior to taking up Flamenco guitar solos. I had enough solos under my fingers as a Classical Guitarist. What I really wanted was to speak the language of Flamenco. During my time in New Mexico, Spain and Los Angeles, I attended Flamenco Festivals, masterclasses, took guitar lessons with countless guitarists, accompanied singers and dancers and was lucky to perform in Tablaos and Theaters with many talented dancers, singers and guitarists. Today, as I look forward at the horizon of my own artistic development, I look back at those experiences with appreciation, and with great humility.
Of course, like any Flamenco guitarist today, I owe a great chunk of my devotion to the late and great Paco de Lucia, who took Flamenco to the next level with his unbeatable artistry and technique, and brought Flamenco to the world during his many world tours. Before Paco, it was Sabicas, Niño Ricardo, and many others. I was a great honor to see Paco de Lucia live on several occasions, and I will certainly spend the rest of my life studying his music. The same is true of Vicente Amigo, who still walks among us and whose innovation and artistry is unparalleled for its time. I was lucky as a youngster to witness the artistry of Jose Valle "Chuscales", and Adam Del Monte, who ended up becoming my teachers and friends. So many other guitarists have influenced me - Manolo Sanlucar, Tomatito, Chicuelo, Antonio Rey, Moraito, Diego del Morao, Jose Carlos Gomez, Rafael Riqueni, to name just a few...
There are a great many Flamenco singers who shaped my direction... While Paco de Lucia was revolutionizing Flamenco Guitar, El Camarón de la Isla was doing the same for Cante Flamenco. I will never name them all, but I have worn out tapes and CDs over the years by Jose Mercé, Juana la del Pipa, Pansequito, Aurora Vargas, Miguel Poveda, Diego el Cigala, La Paquera de Jerez, Fosforito, Montse Cortes, Duquende, and many more... Only an apology can follow for not naming them all here!
And there are a great many of dancers who shaped my direction as well. I was lucky to have grown up around Flamenco in Albuquerque, NM - and shared many years in studios and on stages with such amazing artists. You never know how great people are when you're growing up until you've grown up and witnessed the legacy they have left behind. In NM, those people in my life were Maria Benitez, Eva Enciñas Sandoval, Joaquin and Marisol Enciñas, Pablo Rodarte, Paco Antonio and Lucilene de Geus. Of course, on the world stage, those families were and are Los Amayas, Los Farrucos, Los Reyes, Canales, Antonio Gades, Vicente Escudero, Sara Baras, Antonio el Pipa, and many others.
There are a great many Flamenco singers who shaped my direction... While Paco de Lucia was revolutionizing Flamenco Guitar, El Camarón de la Isla was doing the same for Cante Flamenco. I will never name them all, but I have worn out tapes and CDs over the years by Jose Mercé, Juana la del Pipa, Pansequito, Aurora Vargas, Miguel Poveda, Diego el Cigala, La Paquera de Jerez, Fosforito, Montse Cortes, Duquende, and many more... Only an apology can follow for not naming them all here!
And there are a great many of dancers who shaped my direction as well. I was lucky to have grown up around Flamenco in Albuquerque, NM - and shared many years in studios and on stages with such amazing artists. You never know how great people are when you're growing up until you've grown up and witnessed the legacy they have left behind. In NM, those people in my life were Maria Benitez, Eva Enciñas Sandoval, Joaquin and Marisol Enciñas, Pablo Rodarte, Paco Antonio and Lucilene de Geus. Of course, on the world stage, those families were and are Los Amayas, Los Farrucos, Los Reyes, Canales, Antonio Gades, Vicente Escudero, Sara Baras, Antonio el Pipa, and many others.