Jarraipena

Published in DEIA, Sept. 23, 2010



THEY SAY that magic is something that exists but it can not be normally seen. I do not know if this is right, but what I do think is that when it appears, you feel it. September 18. I arrive to Iruna's bullring (Pamplona). Greetings, hugs and a kind of tension that encourages you to feel the intensive the moment. With the so-called spectacle Amorena´s Children - Amorenaren Kimuak celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Retinue of the Gigantes and Cabezudos (a carnival figure with an enormous head) of Iruña (Pamplona). A century and half of work, music, dance and the effort of several generations in pursuit of a common project. Absolutely enviable. In the course of the night you lived unique moments. It was so curious to me to see the reconstructed workshop, which originally was in Estafeta Street, where the Agote Tadeo Amorena, had constructed the giants. I couldn’t stop looking at them. So enormous and dancing in an amazing way, surrounded by the kilikis and zaldikos joining along with the music a fascinating collage. 14,000 exultant people in the stands shared with all of us that fantastic and unforgettable moment. They participated among others, groups like The Pamplonesa, Jarauta, gaiteros (the bagpipers) and txistularis (the Basque flutist) of the Town Council of Iruña and Josetxo Goia who composed a special theme for this occasion. While I was interpreting the theme Muskerraren Balsa & La Balso de Comoboscuro from my record Bilbao Hora 00.00h, with the ally of the giants dancing, I came to realize how marvelous the results come out of a theme composed in a determined moment and under some concrete circumstances and when you present it, it begins to sustain life and then, one does not know where it is headed to neither the roads it will take. Giants, zaldikos and kilikis, came to life, one more time, forging stories that joined the people in a collective way in becoming magical that join illusions, efforts and hopes. Mila esker (Thank you) for sharing it with me and zorionak (congratulations) to you all.

Photograph by Javier Sesma

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STEVE JORDAN

Published in DEIA, Sept. 16, 2010




IN my journey through the North American lands I have coincided with so many different types of people that I give faith of the North American country’s idiosyncrasy, so known but at the same time so unknown. Last year in October and thanks to my participation in the International Accordion’s Festival in San Antonio, Texas, I met one of those music’s myths. A Texan accordionist so-called Steve Jordan, born in Elsa in 1939 and that has been one of the greatest referent inside of the music called Tex-Mex. In 1718, San Antonio’s city was founded in Texas. With the arrival of European people to the north of Mexico and later with their expulsion to Texas after the Mexican revolution, they created their own musical style combining rhythms, instruments and their different cultures. Steve Jordan has been an authentic legend of the accordion learning to play it on his own and becoming the introducer of the polka in styles as in jazz, rock music, blues and pop. Long hair, an eye patch, beard and an indubitable personal attraction added to a true genius's innate qualities that I met those days in which I was recording a couple of new themes for my album HERRIA along with the Gilbert Velásquez, one of the greatest and famous producers of the moment. Steve left us the last August. Still I remember the autograph that he signed me in that little dark and melancholic show bar, in which you could breathe the intensive and unique atmosphere. Here, when we listen to Tex-Mex we always relate it to Mexico and it´s curious to know that in reality it picks up the different styles of Europe, United States and Mexico almost in equal shares. Things are seldom as they seem to appear, either in a musical style or like judging a person by his looks; eccentric, strange and different, in the case of Steve Jordan, that holds one of those unique and extraordinary examples that treasured in his fingers the secret of genius and talent.

Photograph by Gabe Hernandez


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Zentzuak

Published in DEIA Sept. 9, 2010


In this Aste Nagusia (The festivals of Bilbao) I have had opportunity to enjoy a night of fireworks aboard the Euskal Herria. While they exploded I thought about how spectacular that they were in the visual level and in how the human being is able to appreciate with his sight what surrounds him; so much that he has become his most important sense. But while the colors and different forms followed I thought about the little importance we give to our other senses. What would happen if to those fireworks we took their sound away? The vision would not be so spectacular and everything would get pretty much decaffeinated. What looked like the heart of the matter, it just so happens that it requires a fully-developed equilibrium with the other senses to achieve enjoying the event to its most. In the same way some days ago they emitted the concert that we offered in the Kursaal last February with the Euskadi´s Symphony Orchestra and me, for Caja Laboral´s 50th anniversary. I recorded it and seen it a couple days after. I really not like seeing myself in recordings or in television, not because of nothing in particular but because I like to live experiences to the fullest, feeling the whole possible intensity of the moment and when I see myself in any recording, I always feel a strange sensation. Perhaps is that lived moment was so spectacular that to remember makes me feel nostalgia about it and the sensation that what you see is somehow like a substitute of the same. Looking at the video I realize that what I see does not keep the intensity and the strength that I felt when I played those themes with the sound of the orchestra behind me. The image is perfect but the sound, the presence, the smell, sensations are not the same. I have always thought that the image was the most important thing and I realize now that nothing is indispensable and that each element, for as small and secondary that it seems, it is fundamental. Everything has a complicated equilibrium in the world and with the sight, the ear, and the sense of smell, tact or taste we can even enjoy the following step from summer to autumn, how fortunately lucky we are.


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Asmoak

Published in DEIA on July 29, 2010



THIS is the last column till September. Arriving, I do not know if deserved or not but something usual, summer break, to take in air and somehow also a get away to come back to the month that announces the return of autumn, the end of heat and the beginning of the school year. Right now I’m re-reading all my columns I have in my computer files published in Deia. The subjects of the articles are about all types of information from exhibitions, events, current affairs or anecdotes, even nature, professional, personal, even particularly dedicated to certain people. Looking through them, reading some and skipping others, I discover the evolution of them, since that first article till the last one, I present now. There are times that I am pleasantly surprised, others less, even some that I barely remembered. Little by little I am looking back at my memories, almost virtual to this fantastic and curious stage that I'm living as a writer of an opinion column. On many occasions at my concerts, I realize that people who approach me do it with real passion, and wanting to know more, not only who is interpreting the music but also the person who has a towel around his neck wiping the sweat or taking a drink in a local bar. That is when I realize that all these columns, just as all the things one does, are a true reflection of what one thinks and feels. These writings agglutinate a very important part of my personality. In it I capsize many ideas and opinions overturning many ideas and opinions and mixing them with experiences or feelings that crop up whenever one begins to shape the new column that touches this week. Another opportunity to take what one has inside to express what one seeks out. I am fortunate to be able to live this experience that I surely will miss during this period of rest. See you in a month, have a wonderful summer everyone. Mila esker eta laster arte! (Thank you and see you soon!)


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BENETAZKOA

Published in DEIA on July 22, 2010



In this very moment they are trying to scan every inch of the most representative image of the Bardenas, the head of Castildetierra with a boulder included, to proceed to build an exact replica of him, when inevitably natural causes it to collapse. We have similar examples, such as replicas of the caves of Altamira or Ekain. Today, originality is difficult to find, it’s hard to work on new creative bases. We are too influenced by what surrounds us and often we do not find a way to live and, above all, to create our own style. Copy is neither better nor worse than creating, it's just different and often the copy far exceeds the original but between copies and originals there must be a balance, which today is absent in sight. Replies in our world are increasingly successful and flood harder a wide range of opportunities which we can access for. We all want our children to study in the best places and have an outstanding preparation. But also, many times those developments restrict them in some way, the creativity and originality of the individual. I myself am self-taught of the musical instrument triki, it’s a slower and more expensive way of learning. But at the same time, during this process strengthens the spirit of overcoming, forcing yourself to create and develop a unique style of doing things ... something much more difficult to find and carry out, perhaps in part, by I mentioned before. I have a musician friend who after studying for years in the conservatory, after finishing, I said to me: "Now I need as many years to forget what I´ve learn.” and to tell the truth he is not so wrong about it. The notions and concepts are fundamental, but also it’s very important the personal contribution of each one. Everything in life depends on a robust, yet fragile balance; all depends on it, even dependence.


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BENETAZKOA

Published in DEIA on July 22, 2010


In this very moment they are trying to scan every inch of the most representative image of the Bardenas, the head of Castildetierra, with a boulder included, to proceed to build an exact replica of him, when inevitably natural causes will cause it to collapse. We have similar examples, such as replicas of the caves of Altamira or Ekain. Today, originality is difficult to find, it’s hard to work on new creative bases. We are too influenced by what surrounds us and often we do not find a way to live and, above all, to create our own style. Copy is neither better nor worse than creating, it's just different and often the copy far exceeds the original but between copies and originals there must be a balance, which today is absent in sight. Replies in our world are increasingly successful and flood harder a wide range of opportunities which we can access for. We all want our children to study in the best places and have an outstanding preparation. But also, many times those developments restrict them in some way, the creativity and originality of the individual. I myself am self-taught of the musical instrument triki, it’s a slower and more expensive way of learning. But at the same time, during this process strengthens the spirit of overcoming, forcing yourself to create and develop a unique style of doing things ... something much more difficult to find and carry out, perhaps in part, by I mentioned before. I have a musician friend who after studying for years in the conservatory, after finishing, I said to me: "Now I need as many years to forget what I´ve learn.” and to tell the truth he is not so wrong about it. The notions and concepts are fundamental, but also it’s very important the personal contribution of each one. Everything in life depends on a robust, yet fragile balance; all depends on it, even dependence.


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Ahaztezina

Published in DEIA on July 22, 2010







ALL people should keep a special memory to those persons who developed unknown facets, in areas such as creativity, knowledge, society ... We all know that with the type of life that we lead, mostly we rely more on the immediacy of our existence. What only exists is what takes place now. This requires of us to always stay alert to any changes occurring around us, but at the same time it allows us to drop into oblivion things that have been the result of the effort and the devotion of many people who have dedicated their lives to enrich, in many ways, our existence. A few days ago I read an article in this newspaper, dedicated to the work being done by the José Miguel de Barandiaran´s Foundation and the inauguration of the Barandiaran´s museum in the town of Ataun. Let’s take, for example, On Joxe Miel. Born in 1889 and was ordained priest in 1914. In 1916 he found several dolmens in the mountains of Aralar and from then on until 1991, date of death, On Joxe Miel has conducted an incredible job on our culture, our past history and, above all, our essence as a country. How many of our kids know this? How many of us know of his work, and the magnitude of it? And like him, how many others do we know more? We have the obligation to collect and make available to all of us, old and young, what we inherited from characters as fascinating as Aita Barandiaran and so many others. We can not afford to lose these incredible messages by the apathy and disinterest which is growing in many areas of our society. I would like to dedicate this column to all the people, whether in foundations, museums, etc.., worked hard and struggled so that our memory does not blur in the mists of time and much of that knowledge created, redeemed and investigated by these true heroes, will not be forgotten and we, all of us and those to come, enjoy and make use of this treasure.

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