What is Jerez for the flamenco, for art flamencoWow, absolutely, without a doubt. Great artists of yesterday and today have emerged from this land, and it has a certain feel, a flavor, a signature, something that defines it and makes it recognizable… from afar, whether it's soleá por bulerías, seguiriyas, or bulerías… Jerez is truly Jerez, without this implying any slight to all the other flamenco cities or regions of Andalusia, Extremadura, Murcia…
Perhaps the greatest proof of this is the album Sing JerezFrom 1967, a total classic. We listened, for example, to this cante the unforgettable Fernando Earthquake, Titulado You're the one who has to be missing it., with one of the best-known lyrics for soleá or bulería por soleá:
You're the one who has to lack / money, joy, / health and freedom.
One of the latest contributions is the release of the CD South of FreedomThat is, from flamencoBecause flamenco It has been, is, and will be that: freedom. Because it is an art, and, as such, absolutely free and creative, ever-changing and adapted to the times and the contributions of each artist, with varying degrees of success.
It is a set of nine cantes of José Carpio Fernández, known as Mijita, from Jerez, born in 1982. His first recording experience was the recording The new frontier of cante, from 2008. Later, as a solo artist, he released The Plazuela in its purest form y Is called flamenco, the latter nominated for the Latin Grammy AwardsThat's a great touch. It also includes a banner, which we fans appreciate, so we're not always stuck with the same ones. palosIn the case of José Mijita These albums and the new one repeat the same things on a loop, when he could undoubtedly leave his mark on others. palos, of which there are many.
This current project, South of Freedom, we read in the accompanying booklet, of Jose Maria CastanoThe driving force behind the work has also brought it to the stage, and in it the singer "traces his life story through the sonic experiences of his childhood, which largely blossomed in his own home, in the working-class neighborhood of Federico Mayor," an extension of the Plazuela district, in the south of the city. South of freedom… perhaps that's why he ends with these words that sound like a musical concept adopted for the work: "The purity of his home mingled with the new musical breezes of flamenco"We've run up against purity... and the 'soundtrack of his life,' perhaps to justify the inclusion of..." cantes that are reminiscent of other areas, such as the adaptation of songs to the bulerías style by The ticks, which are certainly part of many of us who have been getting gray hair for a long time.
This album received attention in Expoflamenco in March 2025:
'South of Freedom' by José Mijita, available on digital platforms
He is accompanied by a team of artists consisting of the bassist of Ricardo Pinero, the guitars of Domingo Rubichi's, Fernando Carrasco placeholder image y Pepe del Morao, palmas and compass of Carlos Grilo y Diego Montoya, percussion of Carlos Merino, choirs of Samara Carrasco y Malena Carpio, and lyrics by José María Castaño, Juan Garrido y Antonio Gallardo.
It contains nine tracks or cuts, with titles significant for their biographical background or for their beauty and depth: South of Freedom –martinete and gypsy ballad–, Defeated and desperate –Taranto and Cartagena–, My memory of Los Chichos –by bulerías–, I grew up in the Plazuela –soleá–, The light that guides me –tangos–, Undivé –siguriya–, From Mijita and Martinez –fandangos–, Maria Castaña –bulerías– and For my part Mijita –bulerías–.
As you can see, it's traditional in style and very Jerez-like, with the nuance that Mijita It gives it a house and local touch. It has reached us more in particular. palos like the soleá, the seguiriya, or the bulerías, although also in the taranto or the fandangos al golpe, without guitar. Not forgetting the tribute to Los Chichos, in the form of bulerías, a true reminder of our musical imagination, those seventies and eighties of the last century that seem so distant. The lyrics for soleá are by José María Castaño. We reproduce them exactly as sent to us by the author:
Early in the morning,
The sun rises through the Portal
It's neither yellow nor red
and burns without illuminating.
I grew up in the Plazuela
with a cante that hurts within me.
And for my part, the Mijita
I'm going to die singing.
It was a beach and it dried up.
How can you expect me to cry for you!
If you have no forgiveness from God.
Don't send me any more punishment,
forty years and one day
Take this sorrow with me.
A record, certainly, with a strong meaning flamenco and a heavy personal burden in the context of a Jerez beyond the wealthy landowners, where unjust poverty flourished. José Mijita It bears witness, through the lyrics of Castaño and the other lyricists, to social marginalization, but also to unique flamenco experiences.
→ South of Freedom. José MijitaJerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), 2025
