Back Cover Notes
Pepe Martinez, who was born in Seville on September 8th, 1922, had a signal honour bestowed upon him in May, 1961. The City of Cordoba presented a Festival of Cante Flamenco and paid national homage to the great flamenco singer, Nina de los Pienes. Naturally, she was asked to sing (despite her age) and although there were a number of flamenco guitarists of note ready and willing to play for her, she requested Pepe Martinez to accompany her. A fine and fitting tribute to this great player.
My first meeting with Pepe Martinez was at his instigation. I had written an article about flamenco guitarist Nino Ricardo, in which he said that one of his pupils had been Pepe Martinez, and Pepe wanted to meet me to prove how impossible this was. "There are," says Pepe Martinez, "two main styles of flamenco guitar playing. One style personified by Ramon Montoya, all-time master of the lyrical style or Flamenco lyrico, and the other the fast and furious tearaway style of Nino Ricardo, which has caught on with the younger players."
There is no need, after listening to this recording, to see which style he favours. Not only is he a master of this style but he plays it with 'heart'. Of feeling, Pepe says, "Sabicas, who was born in Pamplona, is a great artiste. Everything he plays is clean and perfect; in fact, the complete player. But I wish he had been born in Seville or at least Andalusia". There is something about the heritage of Seville that seems to add something. That airé of flamenco. Airé is a difficult word to describe and the dictionary certainly misses the real meaning when it says 'aspect, gait'. It could be described as meaning that extra poise or piquancy that adds the final sparkle to greatness.
Listen to the very first track "Rumores Trianeros", a Bulerias, and it is immediately apparent that what is so breathtaking is this very aire which immediately captivates you. Pepe does not use technique as an end but as a means to transmit a feeling which breathes life into the music. "Panadero Flamenco" is an old Sevillana which contains all the charm of a courtly gavotte in spite of being called "The Flamenco Baker" (Pandero).
Still more historic and ancient is the origin of Fantacia Galicia. Galicia is a Spanish north-west province once occupied by the ancient Greeks who sang their odes to the accompaniment of the lyre. The Portuguese-Galician lyrical school flourished with great vigour, producing a notable body of troubadour love poems in the vernacular. The selection probably has its origin in the 13th century and part of the Fantasy is slightly tinged with Moorish as well as the other cultures.
The lilt of the "Garrotin" is absolutley charming and the swing of the Sevillana "De Sevilla al Rocio" will make you want to dance, no matter how you feel.
"Andalucia", otherwise known as 'The Breeze and I', is played in a style that can only be described as 'it fits like a glove'. One cannot imagine any other arrangement being suitable after hearing this one.
The Brazilian "Xodo de Baiana", title one of Side 2, comes as a thrilling and rhythmic surprise especially the damped effect. "Romance Anomino" is included because it is one of Pepe's most requested pieces at concerts.
"Cante Jondo", or Deep Song, cannot be better portrayed than by the deep intensity of feeling with which Pepe plays the Seguria, "De Utrera a Triana".
For the quality and production of this L.P. I must sincerely thank Johnny Gregory who, with the assistance of Dag Fjellner, his engineer at the Ryemuse Studios, London, devoted unstinted time and talent to make the quality of guitar reproduction the best to date.
Ivor Mairants
The Lyrical Guitar Of Pepe Martinez - Flamenco
Vinyl Details:
Label: Fontana TL 5207
Country: UK
First Released: 1964
Genre: Flamenco
Side 1:
01 Rumores Trianeros (Bulerias)
02 Brisas del Guadaira (Solea con Bulerias)
03 Aires de Guanabacoa (Guajira)
04 Panadero Flamenco (Panadero)
05 Campanilleros (Flamenco Christmas Song)
06 Andalucia (Homenaje a Lecuona)
Side 2:
01 Xodo da Baiana (Brazilian Choro)
02 De Sevilla al Rocio (Sevillana)
03 Garrotin
04 Romance Anonimo
05 De Utrera a Triana (Seguiriya)
06 Fantacia Gallicia
