The young flamenco guitarist Manuel Valencia, from Jerez de la Frontera, who just released his first album Entre Mis Manos on 30 September 2016, will be performing at Kings Place in London this Thursday 27 October 2016 as part of the International Guitar Foundation’s London Guitar Festival 2016.

Manuel Valencia grew up in a strongly flamenco environment, taught and influenced by his uncle the flamenco singer Fernando Terremoto (1969–2010) and the flamenco guitarist Moraíto Chico (1956–2011). At the 2014 Flamenco Bienal of Seville, he was awarded the Giraldillo Revelación: ‘por sus originales aportaciones al toque tradicional’.

Here is Manuel Valencia performing his buleria Neferet – the first track on Entre Mis Manos:

Accompanying him on percussion is Ángel Sánchez ‘Cepillo’ and on palmas Manuel Salado and Carlos Grillo.

The flamenco guitarist Gerardo Núñez, who has always been a great encourager of young talent, was another of his mentors; paraphrasing a poem by Constantino Kavafis (1863–1933), Gerardo Núñez wrote:

Manuel nos introduce en un mundo mágico de ecos antiguos que resucitan una y otra vez. Santos, Torres y Terremotos dan vida a su toque. Guitarra cantaora que desgrana sobre marfil los lamentos inútiles del destino.

Alumbrado por un ángel, Manuel Valencia nos trae ‘Entre mis manos’; una medina de emociones, Ítaca de juventud. Yo le deseo que su camino sea largo, rico en aventuras, lleno de experiencias y que nunca apresure su viaje.

The recording, which Manuel Valencia describes as almost an ‘autobiography’ – for its references to all the influences in his life, as well as the list of collaborators –takes its title Entre Mis Manos from the intense experience of holding his newborn son in his hands (Entre Mis Manos), which he says, was the first time that he cried from happiness.

The 8 tracks on Entre Mis Manos (La Voz del Flamenco: LVF 1080) are: Neferet – bulería; Velo de flor – minera-fandango; La fuente nueva – Alegría Malagueña with singer Juan José Amador; Entre mis manos – rondeña; Gandinga – bulería por soleá with Fernando Terremoto; Patriarca – seguiriya: the only piece not composed by Manuel Valencia; it is by Manuel Morao and has been adapted by Manuel Valencia; Báilame – bulería; and Najando – rumba.

Manuel Valencia (guitar); Felipa del Moreno (singer); Bernardo Parrilla (violin); Ángel Sánchez ‘Cepillo’ (percussion); Carlos Grilo, Manuel Salado, Diego Montoya, Juan Diego Valencia (palmas); and guest artists Pastora Galván and Juan José Amador.

Manuel Valencia will be performing at Kings Place with the flamenco singer Felipa del Moreno, the flamenco dancer Saray García and the percussionist Ángel Sánchez ‘Cepillo’. Thursday 27 October 2016, Hall One, Kings Place, 7.30pm. Tickets.

On Saturday 29 October 2016 from 10am–1pm Manuel Valencia will be giving a public masterclass at Kings Place. Details

© 2016 Thérèse Wassily Saba