The first recordings of Paco de Lucía with his brother Pepe will see the light on an unreleased album titled ‘Pepito Y Paquito’…
The release marks the 10th anniversary of the guitarist’s death. The limited 2-LP/CD collection is out May 17. ‘Bulería Niño Ricardo’ and ‘Me falta la Resistencia’ are the previews of Pepito Y Paquito, the first sound recordings of two essential figures of contemporary flamenco when they were 13 and 11 years old, respectively.
These unpublished pieces will be released through BMG together with the Paco de Lucía Foundation, and they will collect a total of 21 songs recorded before their first official material as Los Chiquitos de Algeciras in 1961.
This discovery of great artistic and historical value has been made public during the Paco De Lucía Legacy Festival, which takes place in New York from February 20th to 24th.
Before being known as Paco de Lucía and Pepe de Lucía, they were Pepito and Paquito. Two prodigies of singing and guitar surrounded by art and music in their native Algeciras. Only a few were aware of and had access to the first recordings of the Sánchez Gómez brothers, at the ages of 13 and 11 for Pepe and Paco respectively, made between 1959 and 1960. Now, BMG together with the Paco de Lucía Foundation, rescue 21 unpublished pieces that dig into time to take us to the genesis of two great personalities of flamenco.
As an initial preview of Pepito and Paquito, ‘Bulería Niño Ricardo’ and ‘Me falta la Resistencia’ are presented, two of these phonographic records that precede their first official works signed as the duo Los Chiquitos de Algeciras in 1961. Recorded in a rudimentary way with a Grunding tape recorder of the time, they represent two sound documents that contain an incalculable historical value.
The release of both songs coincides with the tenth anniversary of the death of the guitarist considered the most universal flamenco artist. The pre-order of the album compiling the content of reels lost to date is now available.
Premature glimpses of greatness ‘Bulería Niño Ricardo’ is a guitar solo by Paco de Lucía in which his essence and his clean and refined technique demonstrate the genius and talent he already possessed. A composition that does not hide its inspiration from Niño Ricardo, one of the great precursors of contemporary flamenco playing. The influence of the musical reference in the early beginnings of Paco is evident, but the germ of a different artistic personality that is in full formation and evolution is also glimpsed. Mirror and reflection of the student who years later will surpass the teacher.
Pepe de Lucía’s voice bursts with nerve and charisma in ‘Me Falta La Resistencia’, adapting a famous tango by La Repompa de Málaga. Deep and passionate cante jondo that crystallizes in the natural dialogue that occurs between his vocal ability and the technical skill of his younger brother. The pulse that both take on this flamenco style in this unpublished recording is a good prelude to their historic participation in the First International Flamenco Art Competition in Jerez de la Frontera.
Pepito Y Paquito Pre-Order Here
10 years without the greatest genius of the Spanish guitar February 25 marks a decade since Paco de Lucía’s death in the Mexican town of Playa del Carmen.
His heart stopped at 66 years old in the stillness of paradise, and since then, the flamenco guitar misses him and remembers him because no one dialogues with it like he did. However, the intrepid and creative soul of a revolutionary musician continues to beat through a timeless work that has penetrated the marrow of popular culture and is enjoyed and studied by the most knowledgeable in the field. Achieving unanimity within excellence is only within the reach of the chosen ones. The youngest son of Antonio Sánchez Pecino was one of them.
Paco de Lucía did not hesitate to fuse flamenco with other styles, from jazz to classical music, without losing an undeniable depth that respects a tradition he knew inside out. Added to this was a technical mastery that changed the way of playing and, above all, an inspiration that allowed him to unveil emotions that transcend skins and cultures. A unique vision and capacity to transform forms and narratives of a universal genre. Through notes and chords played with elegance and composure, he marked an era of flamenco expansion to all kinds of latitudes and sound territories.
