A new track has been uploaded, it is part of a new project with Xel Díaz (Da Robotz, look him up in my Top Friends). 

I just put a "new" song on the player. It's "new" because it wasn't here before, but it's actually quite old, from 2001.

L'Outoño (myspace doesn't allow "ñ" in song titles or so it seems) is one of those tunes that is more or less composed by several people. It started as some catchy chords in my bouzouki, a bit of melody was added by Pepín de Muñalén on flute and it was rounded up by Dolfu R. Fernández. If we had to put a single composers to the tune, it would be Pepín, but we like to think of it as a common effort.

It is one of those simple, lovely tunes that you just can't forget (well, at least it is for me). We played it a lot when the three of us were in the band Bron. We never got around to record it, which I think it's a shame. Maybe sometime in the future.

We don't play as Bron anymore. Pepín plays with Tuenda and Dolfu with DRD (both on myspace, chek them out), but we still play together in sessions every week and get together for some project or another.

The recording is actually quite horrible on the technical side, full of reverb and all. It is taken from a live concert in Oviedo. I worked around the PA system that night (I know almost nothing about sound engineering now, imagine 7 years ago). Still, the tune is worth it.

I hope you enjoy it at least half as much as I do. 

There's a new song in my player for everyone to hear. I was a guest musician in two tracks of Skanda's "El Cuartu" (The fourth). They are a folk/rock band from Asturias and you can check their myspace. I played in the two most laid back songs, they are quite energical so don't be surprised if the songs they have up there are different!!

The lyrics from Na Mio Barca (In My Boat) were written by a relative of Marco Castañón, the piper of Skanda, in her deathbed. From the lyrics you can see that she knew she was going to pass away soon. The lyrics talk about a sailor (her) that goes into the sea and describes the things and sounds as she passes by, knowing that she's not going to return.

The song also has some beautyful cello arrangements by Hector Braga, my bandmate in Axu, and some lovely bass guitar, among other things. I played bouzouki, of course.

I hope you like it!

I played in a big gig on Saturday with Tejedor and we had quite a few guests. A friend kindly shot a couple of videos. The one above is from sound check, with famous basque accordion player Kepa Junkera. We also played with a three piece brass section that managed to outsound the rest of the band in the stage. Talk about high energy!

Also in the concert were Jon Garmendia and Iñaki Plaza, the Txalaparta players that usually play with Kepa. This is a video of part of their solo. If you've never seen Txalaparta, this is a good time to start. Jim Sutherland, who is producing a cd here, was coming to see them (and us) but he got there late. I hope he'll be able to watch this video.

Ok, I can't help it. I'm all about wacky stuff when playing music. One of my trademarks in sound checks is the good old Knight Rider. A while ago I recorded an improvisation (if you can call it that) based on the theme song, but never got to upload it anywhere because the videos made with my camera always got out of synch when I upped them to the 'tube. It seems they have fixed it, so here it is.

Please don't be afraid of me. I'm a good guy. And sometimes I even have good taste in music :-)

A new TV programme about traditional music started 4 weeks ago in TPA (the government-owned regional TV of Asturias). Camín de Cantares, conducted by Xosé Ambás form the band Tuenda, has quickly become the most viewed programme of the channel.

The concept is simply excelent. Ambás talks to old people from remote (or not so remote) Asturian villages and gets them to sing some traditional songs for the camera. Then, at the end, Ambás sings a new version of one of the songs with other Asturian musicians providing backing.

Camín de Cantares has been a real eye-opener around here, as a lot of people simply don't know the richness of the Asturian tradition and the folklore that is only possessed by a few old people, which obvioulsy needs to be preserved.

The last two episodes can be viewed using Youtube.

I had the chance of appearing in one of the episodes and that aired yesterday. Here's the video of my appearance, together with Ambás (vocals), Diego Pangua (flute) and Dolfu R. Fernandez (nyckelharpa). Here's a video.

 

The BBC specials for Celtic Connections were broadcasted last weekend. You can see me on the first one, playing two songs with Tejedor. The first one was actually something that wasn't planned and it didn't turn out too well, it's actually too fast. It seems the folks at the BBC didn't mind that.

I've uploaded the second one to Youtube and it can be watched in my profile. That one is better :-). There are clips online for all the artists that appear on the specials. Do check them!

LAU are coming to Gijón tomorrow, that will be a great concert so I'll be there for sure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/celticconnections/whatson/tv_scotland.shtml

From that page you can access some of the videos of the BBC Scotland Celtic Connections Special that was broadcasted yesterday (February 10). Scroll down to watch Tejedor's video of "Xota la Punta", I'm the big guy playing bouzouki.

Hi all.

I just wanted to write a wee bit about a new musical project I'm involved with.

I used to play in the band Llangres with fiddle player Héctor Braga. I left the band a year and a half ago, but I kept talking to Héctor about doing something down the line. There is an anual Asturian music contest here where I live that spans through four or five months with different categories. They are normally geared towards the traditional forms of Asturian music (pipers, dancing, unaccompanied singing etc..) but this years edition has a new division. Folk music four-piece bands.

We decided to enter the contest, not so much for the prize money (which would obviously be welcome if we happen to win) but for the fact that it marked a deadline, a time we had to have some things together. We started with a lineup of flutes, 12 string guitar, guitar and harp+vocals but the second guitar player (me being the 12 string) couldn't find a time to rehearse that fit into our schedules, so we had to look for a replacement.

We finally recruited longtime friend Gelu Díaz with drum programming and effects. This basically has cut off all the chances we had of winning, as I don't think that the judges will like that at all (There's a history of raw traditionalism in the contest), but it is definitely interesting.

We are mixing traditional Asturian songs and melodies with modern backing. We perform for the first time tomorrow and take part in the contest on Sunday.

We'll see what happens.

It seems I never get to update this in a formal fashion.

Anyway, there's some news in my musical life. Nothing too big, but worth mentioning.

First, it seems we are finally reforming the yet unnamed trio composed by Xuan Nel Expósito (from Felpeyu, accordion), Borja Baragaño (from Llangres, flute) and myself (bouzouki). We got together for a series of concerts some years ago and never really found the time to get back at it. You can listen to one tune in my Myspace.

Tejedor are releasing a new album in the next few weeks (I think in less than a month). I didn't play in it, but I guess I'll be playing with them in the cd launch, whenever that might be. For those of you near Glasgow, José Manuel Tejedor will be playing at Celtic Connections in January. Try to catch him live. Also at CC will be my good friends of Corquiéu. I'm sure they'll do great and introduce lots of people to Asturian music.

I've also started rehearsals with Pepín de Muñalén (from Tuenda, flutes) and Hector Braga (harp, hurdy-gurdy, vocals) to take part in a contest, but we plan on continuing playing together after it is over. I'll be playing 12-string guitar and possibly bouzouki. We are also going to have another gitar player, so there will be an absurd amount of strings to tune!!

We have established a good local session around here, with a good number of musicians showing up every Wednesday. Newcastle's Sarah Jones from XYZ is now studying in Oviedo and playing in the session. Do check their profile. Their debut cd is really good.

Other great cds that I've been listening to are Blackwater by Kris Drever (kick-as cd) and Serenade by Solas members Winifred Horan and Mick McAuley. I'm eagerly waiting for Fling's new cd. The samples in their profile sound wonderful.

I will have more to say in a couple of weeks, incluiding a new instrument and another musical project.

All the best.

Alberto

PD: My birthday is on Friday. I'd be grateful if you leave a note in the comments section