Paco Ibáñez ????
Place and date: Palau de la Música Catalana (3/4/2024)
Next November Paco Ibáñez will blow out ninety candles, which are already candles. Circumstance that, fortunately, does not prevent him from getting involved in new projects. On Wednesday, while passing through the Mil·lenni Festival, the rider of the song previewed La nana de Julia, a song with words by José Agustín Goytisolo that is destined to be part of the album he is recording. The album, defined by its surroundings as a compendium of pieces “for children of all ages”, will be called Once Upon a Time, and if everything goes according to forecasts it will be released this summer. Ibáñez (voice, guitar) performed supported by Mario Mas (guitar) with the occasional interventions of Joxan Goikoetxea (accordion) and that magician of environments that is the multi-instrumentalist Pep Pascual. Soleá Morente also appeared on stage, performing the Nana de la mora (José Ángel Valente), a song that will be part of a new work by Don Enrique’s daughter.
Far away, of course, is that overflowing punch that still amazes us when we review wonders like his album at the Olympia. But ultimately it doesn’t matter too much. With a voice nuanced by time, and adjusting with contagious humor some inconveniences that come with age, Paco Ibáñez devilishly captures the audience. Large audience that followed the repertoire with reverent attention, when they did not join it in songs/cannons of such significance as Andaluces de Jaén (Miguel Hernández), the Goytisolianas El lobito bien, Me lo dice mi abuelito and Palabras para Julia, as well as the indispensable A gallop (Rafael Alberti) closing the gig. In between, a lot of substance, including pieces in Basque remembering Mikel Laboa and Xabier Lete, in Galician (Chove, by Celso Emilio Ferreiro) and in Italian (Quando l’alber comincia a fiorire). Major words from the initial The truth is bitter (Francisco de Quevedo), with passes by Brassens (The Bad Reputation), Federico García Lorca (Song of the Horseman) or Antonio Machado (Proverbs and Songs). Carry on, teacher. Until burying them in the sea.
