Thursday, February 28, 2013

Why is "Domino" relevant?


I'm going to make this short...perhaps not sweet, but short.

In 2008, the United States led the world in entering the financial crisis, due to vastly over-valued real estate (read "homes, etc."), extremely risky financial dealings, and corruption.  Thousands and thousands of people lost their homes, thousands and thousands of people lost their jobs.

In 2012, having only partly recovered from the economic crisis of 2008, the United States passed through two moments of brinkmanship when we were on the "fiscal cliff."  Each time, at the last possible moment, Congress and the President managed to find a solution that avoided our falling over it.

As of this writing, the United States is less than 24 hours away from "sequestration," which is something that could well produce another and perhaps more serious financial crisis.

Is Domino:  Caught in the Crisis relevant to the United States?  You bet it is.

I could pepper this short article with photos of closed businesses and homes in foreclosure, but I've already posted those, you've seen those for yourselves, and I think it unnecessary to repeat them.

OUR NEXT BLOG POST will be about the CD release in the flamenco festival

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Antonio de la Malena´s double CD is out: flamenco por derecho

Palomino Productions has had the privilege of producing a double CD of the flamenco cante (singing) of Antonio de la Malena.  I say "privilege" because he is a very fine singer, and the double CD is excellent.  It includes a full two hours of singing, with 16 tracks, 8 per CD.

(Antonio, as you will surely remember, is the star of Domino:  Caught in the Crisis.)

Cover of the double CD:  Antonio with his father.


It will be formally presented to the world in the famous annual flamenco festival in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013...just a few weeks from now.

The presentation, as organized by Antonio, will be really fine.  In the fin de fiesta of the double CD, lots of family and friends joined him and they will all be in the discs' presentation.  From what I understand, there will be 14 people in all.

Of course, Antonio himself will sing.  I asked him what he was planning to sing, and he answered "Whatever I feel like at the time."

In addition, at least some and perhaps all of the others will sing at the very beginning, and in the fin de fiesta, so it´s going to be really lively.

Antonio de la Malena singing.

And Maria del Mar Moreno, the dancer with whom Antonio has collaborated most closely these past few years, will dance one number accompanied, of course, by Antonio.

The guitarists will be Malena Hijo and Santiago Moreno.  Other well-known performers who will participate include Luis de la Tota and el Bob.

If you are planning to attend the festival, you'll certainly not want to miss this performance.  It'll be in Sala la Compañía.  I believe it starts at 8pm but am not absolutely positive, so check the festival program.  Here´s a LINK to Flamencomania´s announcement of the event.

In the meantime, to enjoy a sample of Antonio de la Malena´s singing, go here:  www.AntonioMalenaCD-ENG.com.

OUR NEXT POST will be about why Domino is relevant to people in the US.