“Flamenco is something that you have inside. It is complicated, if not impossible to teach,” says Vicente Amigo, the most acclaimed Flamenco guitarist of his generation. “It’s a way of life. Expressions that you either have or you don’t. This, I think, is something that the whole world understands. Flamenco has always been very international and not precisely because it is exotic or anything like that, but because it brings human feelings and emotions to people without actually saying a word.”
Indeed, explaining your art is a bore for any true artist. And in Vicente Amigo’s case, if in no other, everything you need to know is in the music.
Of course, there are the credientials; he has played as backing guitarist on recordings by the greatest flamenco singers El Pele, Camarón de la Isla, Vicente Soto, Luis de Córdoba. His album Ciudad de las Ideas won the 2001 Latin Grammy for the Best Flamenco Album[1] and the 2002 Ondas award for the best Flamenco work. By that time, he had already been awarded some of the most prestigious flamenco guitar prizes, and at the age of 25 already featured in the Legends of Guitar festival in 1992, performing together with Paco de Lucia, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards and other greats.
With a Latin Grammy under his belt, successful albums and popularity that extends from Japan to South America, Vicente Amigo is a busy man, touring almost constantly, and currently on his way to London. Life on tour is not always easy, and trying to maintain a routine is key, says Vicente. “I get up early every day, around 8 am or so. There are those people who can sleep well but unfortunately I am not one of them. I start the day with bread, olive oil and garlic. Sometimes I will have some Jamon Iberico or pavo as well.”
LL: Do you have any rituals before a performance?
VA: I hardly eat, and try to relax. Before going out I always have a small glass of Johnny Walker whisky.
LL: how much do you miss home when you’re on tour?
VA: I miss my house, my daily routine, having a beer with friends. But for me feeling at home is being able to express myself how I wish. So as long as I am doing that I can feel at home anywhere. And of course there are positive things about the travel. I like to go out, be in different cities and eat well and drink good wine!”
LL: You recorded your last album ‘Tierra’ in London so I guess it will be nice to be playing it live here in the city you recorded it.
VA: I love London. Every time I go I think about escaping there for a while, maybe a year. And Tierra reflects the beauty of London in that it is perhaps the most international CD of mine. There is a mix of international sounds, but the music is something we all agreed on. All the musicians who I collaborated with on this album are from the UK – it was an extremely positive experience and I believe the result is something unique and original.”
LL: What are you listening to at the moment?
VA: To be honest I don’t get to listen to as much music as I would like. The other day I was listening to Diana Krall, “Live in Paris”.
LL: You’ve played with the Flamenco greats, but also you collaborate with musicians from diverse cultures and genres, from Khaled,, Alejandro Sanz, Sting to John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Milton Nascimento.. Who would you really like to play with, dead or alive ?
VA: It would have to be Camaron again. I had the fortune of knowing him and playing with him but I would have loved to have spent more time playing with him and sharing music.
LL: And so for someone who likes to talk through his music, how do you describe music without playing it
VA: It’s simple. Music is harmony, rhythm and melody.
LL: Whats the thing you most like about touring?
VA: Visiting new cities
What is the thing that you most dislike about touring?
VA: Fear
Vicente Amigo will debut of his latest work in London on September 24th at The Union Chapel, followed by a performance at the Celtic Connections festival later in the year.
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