Framed in the Andalusian Circuit of Peñas of 2025Organized by the Andalusian Institute of Flamenco depending on the Board de AndalucíaOn the night of September 26th, he was lucky enough to be given the recital by the singer from Extremadura. Manuel Pajares to Peña Flamenca The Boy from the Jara. The breeze of the Sevillian town of Martín de la Jara was perfumed with the echoes of Extremadura, woven by a voice of natural timbre, without imitations or lies, which pleased the respectable and this critic who, fleeing from other proposals, ended up in less traveled corners looking for new things. And it is not that Manuel's metals were unknown to my ears, since I have been able to enjoy his cante on numerous occasions as a dance accompaniment. But I wanted to rub it in without embellishment, without a PA system, straight ahead, in the privacy of a little corner with just a few and a half people to see what he would say. And he did!
I didn't even go to make a critique, nor did I take notes other than in my memory, nor do I want to bore you by breaking down each canteI went to browse as a fan. And I left happy. It was only fitting to tell you something, at least to demonstrate his good work, because he doesn't get many opportunities to shine on his own and be enjoyed by fans.
There weren't even thirty people in the peña scattered around the hall. They attended the recital with a masterful silence that seemed cold rather than respectful, lacking support. Even so, the helpful and discreet guitar of John Manuel Moreno –which reminded me of the wicker of the Miguel Vargas- and the cante by Manuel Pajares formed a well-rounded proposal, a broad, canonical, original and at the same time orthodox recital with an assortment of canteIt is well executed and with admirable dedication, as if it were an audience with a crowd of reasonable people listening to their complaints.
«The breeze of the Sevillian town of Martín de la Jara was perfumed with the echoes of Extremadura, woven by a throat of natural timbre, without imitations or lies. (…) The cante Manuel's is not spoiled by dancing and springs naturally jondo"He doesn't limit himself to canons by imitation; it comes naturally. He has the codes and the techniques integrated, like good amateurs."
He began with a string of cries, recreating the one about blackberries, the one about grapes, the one about candies, Macandé or the fruit seller, now in bulerías. Then he warmed up to soleá, where I usually measure the singers. And without leaving the tone, he also shone in Alcalareña variants, which he remembered The Huts, who got into the Triana cadences, bravely attacking the strong thirds, among many other variations that he embroidered without breaking a sweat, with knowledge and taste. He went from less to more and finished with Paquirri with a lot of effort. He gave a review of the colors of the cantiñas, splendid in the rhythm and with a palate in the lyrics. As he was also when he went to Levante, without repeating the same hackneyed tarantos, tarantas and mineras that everyone does. But where he really let loose was in the Extremadura tangos, due to the fondness of his blood and his birth. He opened them with a fandango of Porrinas, spreading butter to later endorse the messiahs of the ninth province of the flamenco. He strapped on his machos, continuing with a short and mournful seguiriya. And he fastened his bulerías and jaleos, riding among the tints of Mairena and those who sew to Cáceres and Badajoz.
El cante Manuel's is not spoiled by dancing and springs naturally jondoHe doesn't limit himself to canons by imitation; it comes naturally. He has the codes and the techniques down pat, like true aficionados. Then inspiration pushes what emerges down his throat, feeling more than thinking and enjoying more than measuring. Hence his spontaneity, his freshness, and his repertoire, worthy of joyful encyclopedists who pamper every verse because they're passionate about what they're doing. Manuel Pajares is much more than a singer from the background. That's how it seemed to me.
Credits
recital of cante by Manuel Pajares
Andalusian Circuit of Peñas 2025
Peña Flamenca The Boy from Jara, Martín de la Jara, Seville
26th September 2025
Cante: Manuel Pajares
Guitar: Juan Manuel Moreno
