Carnegie Hall, the legendary New York stage that Paco de Lucía managed rouse to standing ovations, was filled again last night to remember the genius from Algeciras after 10 years since his passing. Over 30 top artists, including some of those who lived most closely with the guitarist, gathered there to remember his teachings and claim the absolute validity of his music. All, as the American press has pointed out, in the greatest flamenco tribute ever celebrated.

An opening night cocktail reception was held in the Rohatyn and Shorin Club Rooms at Carnegie Hall prior to this great and emotional night of music, attended by numerous institutional representatives and people linked to the Cádiz musician, as well as figures such as Guillermo Fesser and Juan Luis Cano, the tandem that he created the radio duo Gomaespuma, the basketball player José Manuel Calderón, the award-winning Latin jazz musician and composer Paquito D’Rivera, among others. The Consul General of Spain in New York, Caridad Batalla, congratulated the Paco de Lucía Foundation for its initiative, confirmed the support of her consulate and thanked “all the institutions that disseminate Spanish culture.”

For her part, Paco de Lucía’s widow, Gabriela Canseco, announced that “this week we brought together musicians who are part of Paco’s great family, musicians who, although some did not know each other, are all united by their music. They all converge, because they have drawn on Paco’s work, whether they have played with him or not. Thirty-three musicians who come from different parts of the world and have been living together for four days, rehearsing, remembering and talking about Paco non-stop,” she said. “Starting tonight they meet in various spaces to translate all those emotions through their personality, their knowledge and their instruments. “They are perfect conditions for Paco’s music to fly and pure magic to occur.”

And magic was what was experienced on the stage of Carnegie Hall by such well-known artists as Diego El Cigala, José Mercé, Carmen Linares, Al di Meola, Rubén Blades, Sílvia Pérez Cruz and Farruquito, as well as the members of the two sextets with which Paco de Lucía surrounded himself in his career. Over the course of three hours, the large cast performed classic songs from Paco de Lucía’s repertoire such as I only want to walk, Monasterio de sal, Luzia, La Barrosa or the popular rumba Entre dos aguas, which put the finishing touch to the concert.

Coming up next at the festival

Today, February 21, three different acts will make flamenco shine again in the city of skyscrapers. Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, together with Alex Conde, co-musical director of the night, will perform some of the maestro’s most emblematic songs at Symphony Space. The musician from Algeciras will also be remembered in a concert at Le Poisson Rouge, with Jorge Pardo, Chano Domínguez, Javier Colina and Silvia Pérez Cruz. Other activities are scheduled at the Instituto Cervantes New York, which will host the presentation of César Suárez‘s book, El Enigma Paco de Lucía, a volume that offers valuable data on the life of the universal artist. The event will also feature a musical performance by young scholarship recipients who are studying the Master in Flamenco Performance at the Centro Superior Música Creativa.

On February 22, cajon maestro El Piraña and Makarines will teach a compás master class at KJCC-NYU, while the night will be filled with surprises at Town Hall with Flamenco Summit Meets New York, an unprecedented encounter between flamenco artists and leading New York musicians. Flamenco, Jazz, Latin and African music will go hand in hand with names like Niño Josele, Rubén Blades, Josemi Carmona, Antonio Rey, Richard Bona and Pepe Habichuela. The event will feature the dancers Farruquito, Karime Amaya and Farru. The program includes Alain Pérez, Rafael Riqueni, Antonio Sánchez and Silvia Pérez Cruz. This concert will cross musical boundaries, transforming Town Hall into a melting pot of sounds, with a harmonious dialogue between different musical traditions.

On February 23, the Instituto Cervantes New York will host Puro Flamenco, a recital starring Pepe Habichuela, Rafael Riqueni and Carmen Linares, among others.

Finally, on February 24, Quad Cinema will host at 4:00 pm the screening of the film The Search, by Curro Sánchez, son of Paco de Lucía, about the figure of his father. And that same morning, at the Ángel Orensanz Foundation, the unreleased album Pepito y Paquito will be presented and the festival will officially close.

The artistic direction of Paco de Lucía Legacy is by Julio Martí of Serious Fan Music, along with Farru and Israel Suárez “Piraña”. The musical direction is provided by the Creative Music Foundation, directed by Laura Poggio with the collaboration of Josemi Carmona, Antonio Serrano and Eduardo Murillo. This festival in New York is the kick-off for an anniversary that will include other milestones, such as the release of an unreleased album by Paco de Lucía, a sound document of incalculable historical value.

The Paco de Lucía Legacy Festival is a testament to the enduring legacy of a musical genius and promises to be an unparalleled celebration of the art of flamenco. This extraordinary event brings together world-class musicians, pays tribute to the profound influence of Paco de Lucía and showcases the vibrant talent of established and emerging flamenco artists. “His creative talent, his execution and his capacity for continuous innovation are recognized, beyond flamenco, by the best guitarists and musicians on the planet,” proclaimed the Paco de Lucia Foundation. “There are few figures so indisputable in music. Few artists with such an extensive and enduring career without criticism. His is a case of genius, in every sense, exceptional.”