More than a year has passed since we had to accept the shocking news that Paco de Lucía had died unexpectedly in February 2014. It shook the flamenco world to its very roots and the reverberations affected the international music world profoundly.

Since then, the strong sense of loss from Paco de Lucía’s absence has been soothed by the release of his final recording, which he had already completed and prepared for release Canción Andaluza; and further comfort can be found in the release of the film Paco de Lucía: La Búsqueda.

Now a very special Tribute concert: Paco de Lucía – Beyond the Memory will be held at the Barbican, London on Wednesday 9 December 2015, featuring a dream cast of musicians who have been performing most closely with Paco de Lucía for decades: original members of the Paco de Lucía Sextet: flautist/saxophonist Jorge Pardo, bass player Carles Benavent, percussionist Rubem Dantas with whom Paco de Lucía introduced the cajón as an essential flamenco percussion instrument 35 years ago, as well as other more recent members of the Paco de Lucía Septet: the flamenco singer Duquende, the flamenco dancer Farru, the percussionist Piraña, the harmonica player Antonio Serrano, and the two nephews of Paco de Lucía: the guitarist Antonio Sánchez, who toured for a number of years with the Septet and the guitarist José María Bandera, with whom he formed a guitar trio (including Juan Manuel Cañizares).

The performance will be accompanied by visuals, including previously unseen images and excerpts from Paco de Lucía: La Búsqueda, a new film based on Paco de Lucía’s life, directed by his son, Curro Sánchez Varela, with a script by Paco de Lucía’s daughter Casilda Sánchez Varela; the producers are Paco de Lucía’s daughter Lucía Sánchez Varela and Anxo Rodríguez.

Paco de Lucía – Beyond the Memory will begin with the duo of pianist Chano Domínguez and flamenco guitarist Niño Josele performing music from their recent Chano y Josele recording.

For many years Serious, the organisers of the London Jazz Festival, invited Paco de Lucía and his Septet/Sextet to perform during the London Jazz Festival, so it seems only fitting that Serious in collaboration with the Barbican has organised this Tribute concert. Paco de Lucía – Beyond the Memory will be – like those many concerts where Paco de Lucía was performing with these very same musicians – an unforgettable musical experience!

The Paco de Lucía Tribute concert is part of the Barbican’s Contemporary Music concerts.

© 2015 Thérèse Wassily Saba