The gypsy spirit of Diego El Cigala has lead him to discover and interpret musical latin lovers ranging from tango, flamenco, Andalusian and Cuban. This time around, the Grammy winning soul brought the salsa music from his latest album Indestructible and delivered a two hour evening of celebration, passion and pathos.
Seated at a chair and accompanied by a ten piece band to his rear and a frequently refilled drink by his side, El Cigala mixed his fervently earthy voice to punctuated pieces like “Moreno Soy” and the slithering “Juanito Alimana” like a Spanish minstrel in a low ceilinged café’. While the horn section of Bernardo Aguirre/tb, Richard Stella/tb, Carlos Martinez/tp and Anibal Martinez/tp delivered more accents than a Shakespeare sonnet, Jaime Calabuch had his piano lurk around dark shadows while Diego agonized on “Si Te Contara.” Over on the side, backing vocalists David Marcano and Daniel Diaz sang and danced in choral fashion like a Latin version of the Temptations and tapped out percussion to complement the sizzling grooves delivered by David Marcano’s timbales and Daniel Diaz’s congas as a piece like “El Paso De La Encarnacion” changed gears more often than a 62 ‘Vette, while Yelsy Heredia’s bass work veered from a deep pocket to “where is he going with this” free form, but it all working to an intoxicating climax while El Cigala chants out lyrics of defiance and deliverance.
The band was able to create moods ranging from relentless salsa on the pleading “Inolvidable” to the dark and shadowy Afro Cuban cataclysm of “Hacha Y Machete” while El Cigala swayed and pleaded here and on the swaying “Corazon Loco” as Calabuch’s piano created a last call mood with his ivories.
As with all storytellers, El Cigala is at his best in the intimate environment of simple piano accompaniment. He rolled up his vocal sleeves and created four intimate arias with Calabuch which included a jaw dropping “Soledad.” The packed house, which had been like an extra member of the band by clapping, shouting and stomping in support, was brought to a hush as they took in the stories like a late night around the caravan campfire.
Closing with the jazzy title track from his latest album and a gently lilting read of the eternal “Dos Gardenas” Diego El Cigala mentioned to the audience how “Flamenco music is from God.” If that is the case, and this night it would be difficult to dispute, then Diego El Cigala showed that he is one of the most trustworthy of evangelists.
Upcoming shows at The Luckman include RickieLee Jones & Madeleine Peyroux 03/18, Joe Lovano 04/08 and Chucho Valdes 05/20