Diego El Cigala – Spain

With guest singer Benjamin Bouzaglou

Each thing has its own mystery and poetry is the mystery all things have.

Federico García Lorca

 

Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar was born in Madrid into a family of performers. His diminutive stature combined with his powerful voice led no less a figure than the famous Camarón de la Isla to name him “El Cigala”.

Diego Al Cigala is now a major voice of Flamenco.

He is considered one of the most innovative flamenco singers of today; his varied musical journeys have pushed him towards Cuban music and Argentine tango. Passionate, profound, intense and tender, Al Cigala’s voice is perfectly suited to such emotion as is described as coming close to losing one’s senses, as in Arab tarab, or musical ecstasy.

The word duende derives in etymological terms from the expression dueño de la casa or master of the house. According to popular belief, the duende is a spirit that comes to upset the house. Its second meaning is rooted in the region of Andalusia. Duende indicates a mysterious and unspeakable charm that is found in flamenco in moments of grace and related to scenes of enchantment.

Earthy as is required in the passion of flamenco, yet ethereal in inspiration, Diego Al Cigala has swiftly become a master of the cante jondo, the profound song of this tradition in which gypsies excel, coming as he does from a family with close ties to the art.