Sunday, March 2, 2025 By Wilbert Sostre Maldonado.
All photos by Félix Guayciba© Guayciba
In 1986 I started taking guitar lessons, mostly inspired by the rock guitarists of the 70’s and 80’s. 1986 was also my transition year from high school to the University of Puerto Rico. It was then that I discovered that there was much more to music than rock. And one of the first musicians who caught my attention outside of the rock scene was Paco de Lucia. I remember that two of my favorite recordings were “Passion, Grace & Fire” and “Friday Night in San Francisco” by John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia.
In 2012 I had the opportunity to see Paco de Lucía at the Puerto Rico Jazz Fest. Last Saturday, March 1, 2025, thirteen years after that festival, and eleven years after the death of Paco de Lucía, I returned to the theater of my Alma Mater, the University of Puerto Rico, to witness an extraordinary tribute to this giant of music.
Photo by© Guayciba
In a production by Pro Arte Musical, the Barcelona Guitar Trio & Dance were responsible for this well-deserved tribute to the Master of Flamenco and Guitar, Francisco Sánchez Gómez “Paco de Lucía.” Being a trio of guitarists (Xavier Coll, Ali Arango and Luis Robisco), the event promised to be a sound trip to those legendary recordings by Paco de Lucía with John Mclaughlin and Al DiMeola.
However, due to visa problems, guitarist Ali Arango was unable to get to Puerto Rico. This and other inconveniences (the musicians’ luggage also did not arrive in Puerto Rico) were no impediment for the public to enjoy a show of musical excellence.
Before a full house and now becoming the Barcelona Guitar Duo & Dance, Xavier Coll on guitar, Luis Robisco on guitar, Lucas Balbo with an excellent job on percussion and the dancers, José Manuel Álvarez and Carolina Mordago opened the concert with an exquisite interpretation of the Astor Piazzolla tango “Libertango”. Immediately the dancers Álvarez and Mordago, impressed the public with their passion and dazzling technique on the tablao.
Photo by© Guayciba
The guitarists Xavier Coll and Luis Robisco demonstrated their refined technique and virtuosity in a repertoire mostly of songs that at some point were interpreted by Paco de Lucía; “Spain” by the pianist Chick Corea, “Danza del Molinero” and “Danza del Fuego” by Manuel de Falla, and the original songs by Paco “Canción de Amor”, “Zyryab”, and “Mediterranean Dance”, the latter recorded with Al DiMeola.
The good sense of humor was also present when guitarist Xavier Coll tried to introduce a song, and was constantly interrupted by the guitar of his partner Luis Robisco, who then went on to play both fragments of the songs “Mission Impossible” and the Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water.” Finally Xavier Coll managed to present “Las Canciones de García Lorca,” accompanied again by the strength and majesty of the dancers José Manuel Álvarez and Carolina Mordago.
Photo by© Guayciba
After a well-deserved ovation, Barcelona Guitar & Dance returned to the stage, first with another moment of good humor, Xavier Coll, Luis Robisco and Lucas Balbo playing the Michael Jackson song “Billie Jean,” all on one guitar.
Barcelona Guitar & Dance concluded this unforgettable night and tribute to Paco de Lucía with its classic composition “Entre Dos Aguas.”