Butterflies are stirring in my stomach these days. José Anillo Salazar (Cádiz, 1978) every time he thinks about the appointment he has on Friday, October 17 at the Great Falla TheaterThe Cadiz native wants to conquer the temple of red bricks by doing what he's been doing all his life: cante of the good kind that has often served to bring out the best in the best, from Cristina Hoyos to Miguel Poveda, but which now serves its own discourse: the one it displays on its latest album, Philosophy. Spontaneous and natural always, he welcomes his colleagues expoflamenco to talk about this concert.
– Singing at home, is it an advantage or an added responsibility for you?
– Returning to Cádiz always has two sides: it's very difficult to live up to your people's expectations, but at the same time you receive that affection that you won't get anywhere else. It's a double-edged sword [laughs].
– In any case, is it difficult to feel like a prophet in one's own land?
– I don't know what to tell you. I've been a professional for thirty years, and I'm lucky to finally be able to present my second album, because I didn't even have a chance to present my first one.
– How was that?
– It just didn't fit, I couldn't do it live. It didn't have a proper presentation at the Biennial, nor at Flamenco It comes from the South, not even at the Jerez Festival… I found all the fish sold.
– How has it grown? José Anillo from that debut until Philosophy?
– The first album was about singing everything I had experienced with great speed; it was the calling card of what I was and what I did. Philosophy It's something very different. I'm the José I am now, much more mature, unafraid of whether others like what I do or not. I went to the studio with José Bolita, told him, "I have this project, let's see what comes out," and we recorded what we liked, without any commercial pretensions, without trying to please purists or non-purists. A work of freedom.
"I don't do the Malaga del Mellizo thing like I did when I was fifteen. You grow up and discover other places to go. You see where you move best, you know your limitations, your strengths and your weaknesses. canteThey are always the same, but you learn to execute and transmit them.
– And the challenge of bringing it to life, is it proving easy?
– Yes, especially thanks to the direction of Sevillian dancer Ángeles Gabaldón, who is very experienced in stage direction. We're going to perform the songs from the album and a few other things. Ángeles will dance the guajireña… But even I don't know how it's going to turn out!
– What other guests will you have?
José Quevedo Bolita will be the first guitarist, he will come with his son José Quevedo Jr., and Juan Antonio Gómez will also be a guest guitarist, who is the first one I played. The cast is completed by Paquito González on percussion, Dani Taketo on bass, José Carra on piano and Víctor Carrasco and Roberto Jaén on backing vocals and palmasAnd of course my sister Encarna will be there too.
– You’re going with all the artillery…
– Anyway! Otherwise, why would I go? [laughter]
– Do you feel more comfortable surrounded by a big band, or with more intimate formats?
There's going to be a bit of everything. The soleá dedicated to Seville will be guitar-only, and there will also be some malagueñas with piano that aren't on the album... I adapt to everything; with or without a band, I'm a chameleon.
– The truth is, you can choose whoever you want, because rather than saying who you've sung with, we'll end up faster if we say who you haven't. But who has left the deepest mark on you?
– Working with Cristina Hoyos was very important for my career. We did 250 shows a year, it was like throwing away the winter suitcase and packing up the summer one. Thank God the company provided our wardrobe, even the shoes! Belén Maya also taught me a lot, as did Israel Galván… Musically, the most memorable thing was working with Paco in the studio, but I’ve experienced some great things with others: Poveda, Farruquito and family… One of the people I’ve enjoyed working with the most is Joan Albert Amargós. Many will say he’s not… flamenco, but they don't know what Uncle Joan is capable of creating...
– Is this saying that you learn throughout your life false humility?
– On the subject of cante You can always keep learning. You do it differently depending on the time you live in. I don't do the Malaga del Mellizo thing like I did when I was fifteen. You grow up and discover other places to go. You see where you move best, you know your limitations, your strengths, and your weaknesses. canteThey are always the same, but you learn to execute and transmit them.
"Fortunately or unfortunately we have the carnival, which takes a lot away. Everywhere there is more interest in the flamenco than in Cadiz. (…) I go around Cadiz and nobody knows me, but a kid from a comparsa or a quartet is known by everyone and has 500.000 followers on Instagram.
– The truth is, are you on stage, or also in the studio?
– I like both. I'm also a bit of a machine; producing drives me crazy. The studio is the laboratory, and you can get excited perfectly in the fishbowl or pushing buttons, as long as you go in with the disposition to enjoy and not suffer, which was what happened to me at first: seeing if I can do it right, seeing if this one or that one likes it…
– In recent years, great Cádiz maestros have left us. You belong to the generation that took over from Chano, from Mariana… But there aren't many singers in our city. Why?
– Well, I wish I had that place… Now, as a legendary singer, we have Juan Villar, and then there are the rest of us. But yes, I think there's a lack of fans and institutional support. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have Carnival, which takes a lot away. There's more interest in the music everywhere. flamenco that in Cadiz. If the flamenco Like Carnival, Cadiz would be something else. No we have many, but those who we have we are good.
– The same thing happens with guitarists…
– I travel around Cádiz and no one knows me, but a kid from a comparsa or a quartet is known by everyone and has 500.000 followers on Instagram.
– Do you feel flamenco through and through?
– Well, I went out in 2019 in a comparsa to live the experience, and I didn't even make it to the quarterfinals [laughs].
– What will we see at the Falla on the 17th?
– It's going to be a very nice night, the audience is going to enjoy and get to know who he is. José Anillo at the cante, what he feels and how he feels it, how he lives flamenco from his point of view and his way. A night of good music, good cante and good dancing. ♦
