There's a phrase you sometimes hear when talking about certain flamenco singers who convey something to us to varying degrees: "The cante "It doesn't fit on the paper."And the truth is, it's a phrase that sums up, like the lyrics of a fandango, a whole story, a novel written in five lines. Or, applied to the analysis or chronicle of a recital, it's a good way of saying that the singer has done so beyond the limits of music, inviting the audience to feel something that goes beyond a simple melody or a simple verse.
The audience gathered at the Peña The Silversmith (Granada) to listen to the Jerez native Ezekiel Benitez, who came accompanied by the guitar of Paco LeónEzekiel is more than just a worker of the canteA worker who, with his style, his distinctive style, his personality, and his ability to connect with people, has managed to carve out a niche for himself at most events. flamencoSee festivals. peñas, theaters, etc. In these times, the most difficult thing for a flamenco singer is not to resemble anyone else, to be unique, and above all, to have their own repertoire. However, the freedom that the flamencoThe process of creating new styles is complex, All that remains is to innovate in the lyrics and the style. And Ezequiel is doing very well in that regard. It works well because, as a composer, he takes responsibility for contributing in every cante Songs that perfectly suit each one. If he sings seguiriyas, there you'll find death, sadness, and sorrow. If he sings alegrías, revelry appears. If he sings fandangos, there are proverbial sayings, odes to love, or remembrances of a deceased friend.
Paco León's guitar is precise and refined, accompanying without intruding and enveloping the cante right on, without hindering, making the grow cante without being noticed. And that's difficult, because you have to know how to be a squire when you're accompanying the cante And Paco knows it and lives by it. That's why he's discreet and precise, yet also phenomenal when he needs to deliver a falseta.
Everyone likes Ezequiel. He likes himself. And that's essential. His clear, understandable, and flamenco-infused voice makes him... canteso that they can be enjoyed by those who are demanding and by those who are novices. It started without timidity with soleá, rocking the thirds traveling from Alcalá to Cádiz and Lebrija to finish with fandangos in 12 beats. One of the best things about the recital was its literary renewal. Everything was his own creation, except for a few details in the final bulería, but what a joy it is when you sing alegrías and everything is fresh, new, yet sounds traditional.
"Everyone likes Ezequiel. He likes himself. And that's necessary. His clean, understandable, flamenco voice makes him..." canteso that it can be enjoyed by both discerning and novices.
He surprised everyone by singing thrillas, accompanied by a guitar that at times shifted to seguiriya and then returned to the free tempo of the early besana or approached the abandolao style with the feel of a slow bulería. He then performed malagueñas, dedicated to a deceased friend, and finished with abandolaos. If he was already warmed up, He just got carried away with the seguiriya, the ones from his homeland, the cante Short and explosive, the one that pierces the soul. How she sang the song of Uncle José de Paula! And how she finished with the one of the One-Eyed Man! PeñaThey were worth a fortune.
Ezequiel managed to get the audience to agree on everything. Because La Platería is a peña Historic, established, reliable, but cold when it comes to showing warmth to the artist. It's hard to elicit an "olé." And not because the artist doesn't provoke it, but because the fans just can't seem to do it. And that night, those who hadn't shown up in previous months finally came out. Thank goodness. Because The artist needs the warmth of the listener to feel fulfilled. and feel the need to let everything out. Otherwise, it's game over.
He performed a series of fandangos and finished the night with bulerías, the short ones from Jerez, the ones from The Hutsdistant echoes of Alfonso del GasparAnd those from Cadiz, the playful ones that invite you to dance, as he did.
Before leaving, and feeling quite comfortable, he gave away a fandango and the Christmas carol of Child Glory With the audience on their feet, singing along and keeping time. That's part of the secret to success: captivating the audience and making them feel like they're part of the show. And Ezequiel knows exactly what he's doing.
Credits
recital of cante by Ezequiel Benítez
Peña The Silversmith, Granada
November 29th 2025
CanteEzequiel Benítez
Guitar: Paco León.
