Saturday 28th March

Sir William Turner Chapel Almshouses, Kirkleatham, Redcar

I was fortunate to attend the excellent concert arranged by Middlesbrough guitarist Mark Boden on Saturday evening, March 28th. The setting was the beautiful and historic Kirkleatham Church in Redcar. The programme was something different. It included works by teenage musicians and singers from Macmillan College, Teesside, (supported by Mark's colleague and singing trainer Elspeth Chapel), also some solo pieces performed by the very creative and accomplished cellist Jeremy Harbottle. The second half of the evening was an inspiring flamenco guitar and singing set performed by Mark, alongside guitarist Phil Philo and, for some of the performance, Jeremy on cello. This was an adventurous concert. The young musicians and singers were superb, and where else can you hear flamenco explored at this high standard in the North East by English musicians?

The first performer was Mariana Trunfio, aged 14, a pupil of Elspeth Chapel. Mariana, who's background is Italian first sang " Il mio amico" and she moved smoothly between Italian and English to perform the song, This was followed by the Leonard Cohen Song "Hallelujah". She then concluded with the Andrew Lloyd Weber song " I don't know how to love him", this time accompanied by Elspeth on piano. Mariana has an excellent voice and presence. She deserves musicians to accompany her singing rather than the recorded accompaniment to her first two songs.

Holly Shahverdi then came on stage to perform "Tell me on a Sunday", another Andrew Lloyd Webber number. Holly is a superb singer and further demonstrated her versatility by next performing with the band "Dance Las Vegas" alongside guitarists Jamie Donnelly and Josh Brodie. The band played three numbers written by Jamie, 'I don't need you anymore', 'Heaven lost an angel tonight' and 'When in Rome, do what Romans do'. Holly's singing provided real presence, definitely a talent to watch for. Both guitarists performed extremely well, combining rhythm with a variety of lead breaks. The influence of Mark Boden's guitar tuition was clear, with a strict emphasis on tight rhythm and tempo holding the set together. Not all members of Dance Las Vegas were available for this set so it is not easy to know what the whole band can achieve. This combination was very good, though one felt the band could benefit from rhythm and bass sections to allow the guitars more freedom to express their talents and to provide Holly with broader accompaniment.

The first half was brought to its conclusion by cellist Jeremy Harbottle. Jeremy is every inch a Polymath, Renaissance man and an exciting contribution to culture today. As well as being a highly accomplished and recognised classical cellist, he has a degree in Chemistry from Imperial College, London, and is now running a theatre company. Perhaps it is recognition of the unique talent Mark Boden offers us that Jeremy should choose to perform at this concert and also alongside Mark and Phil's flamenco interpretations in the later set.

Performing solo Jeremy first played the 'Lacrimosa' and the 'Entry' from the Sculthorpe Requiem for Solo Cello, an Australian piece based on Palestrina plain chant. The plain chant theme fitted well with the vaulted roof and church setting. At times the base notes of the Entry leant to the Australian origins of the piece and reminded at least one listener of a didgeridoo. This was then followed by the Allemande, Sarabande and Gigue from Bach's Suite No. 1 for solo cello. The setting of Bach within a seventeenth century church was impressive and provided an example of the contrast contained in the concert. At the end of the performance Jeremy seemed embarrassed that he had forgotten to re-tune his base string from B flat to C before starting the Bach. He had to stop and re-tune before proceeding. Believe us Jeremy, these idiosyncrasies bring you closer to the audience. We don't get the personal touch from MP3's and CD's!

The second half was Mark's opportunity to bring Flamenco, the music of Andalusia, to Kirkleatham. Mark Boden, who arranged the whole concert, is a highly accomplished rock and classical guitarist, and a dedicated teacher. In recent years he has also taken it upon himself to becoming a flamenco guitarist, and is a frequent visitor to Seville to study with Spanish masters. Classical guitar has been followed in the UK by a number of guitarists, and its popularity enhanced by Julian Bream and John Williams. Flamenco is a different tradition, very much more a working people's and gypsy music. Whilst less formal in some respects than classical music, it has specific forms and, as dance music, very strict tempos and accents. Whilst most English people are aware of a stereotypical idea of flamenco, as a musical style it is rare among UK musicians.

Mark performed in partnership with his able student, Phil Philo. Both Mark and Phil are aware that initially an English audience, without the necessary cultural background, can struggle with some flamenco forms and therefore concentrated their performance on examples that appeal more readily to our ears. These included Rumbas, by Paco de Lucia and Paco Capero, and also a Farruca and Soleares composed by Mark himself.

From the outset and first piece, 'Entre dos aguas', by Paco de Lucia, the audience knows this is exciting music; emotional and bursting with feeling of life, whether joyous, painful or reflexive. Of the partnership of Mark and Phil, it is Mark who takes the spotlight most often with complex and creative playing, often of sublime quality. At the same time Phil at times takes on his own melodic interventions as well as maintaining the strict tempo, known as 'compas'. The style and mood of the flamenco concert was varied. At one point Mark, who had already sung with some of the pieces, left his guitar and sang solo to Phil's excellent accompaniment. The piece, by Yasmin Levy, 'Intentalo Encontrar', a Jewish influenced flamenco song, was beautiful. Among a variety of traditions Jewish folk music is seen as one contributing to what we know today as flamenco. It also gave Mark time to put all attention to his voice and show he can be an excellent singer. In another piece, a Soleares, 'Mi soltero vida' written by Mark, Phil stood down and Mark played alongside Jeremy on cello. Following Jeremy's earlier classical pieces, here was an opportunity for him to play with Mark in the improvised (allbeit within a strict form), characteristic of flamenco.

The final piece, 'Verde, te que quiero verde' was a rumba, with words from the Spanish poet Garcia Lorca. As with earlier pieces, such as the Gypsy Kings number 'Soy', this had the audience clapping and stamping their feet, The rhythm and feel of the music was infectious.

This was a beautifully varied concert, showcasing young people, a very creative cellist, and Mark and Phil bringing flamenco to a new audience. An audience, it must be noted, who's ages ranged from teenage to senior citizens. Mark is special to create this concert. All 115 seats were sold out, and the audience went home agreeing with Mark's concluding words, that flamenco is a style that will grow in popularity in the coming years. Like others I watched the recent Alan Yentob three part documentary on the guitar on BBC. Apart from a brief minute or so looking at flamenco, the three part programme concentrated entirely on the USA and UK rock traditions. Did nobody tell him that the instrument entered and was developed in Europe through Spain? Or that there exists a vast variety of guitar and guitar like instruments creating folk music across South America, Central America and the Carribean? Or that Flamenco is a tradition that grew up in Southern Spain and then developed through the contact and commerce of people between Spain and Hispanic America? That the guitar has more to do with Spain than anywhere else?

Thanks to Mark Boden for arranging this concert. Thanks to Mark and Phil for bringing flamenco to the North East. Thanks to Jeremy for being an adventurous musician, thanks to Mariana, Holly, Jamie and Josh for performing as young musicians, and thanks to Elspeth for teaching them.

Review submitted by Graham Jarritt   

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