Paco de Lucia died a few days ago and he was one of the best flamenco guitarists in the world, ever since the sixties. His music influenced a great many people and some it influenced a lot, one of them was Voodoo Shilton. I believe it was only last week that I wrote a little about Voodoo covering one of de Lucia's tunes. Influence doesn't go far enough, Voodoo was greatly inspired by him.
Last night Voodoo Shilton played a Lament for Paco and it was a tremendously emotional piece. After it was over, I could hear a little choking in his voice when he tried to speak and Señor de Lucia could not have asked for a more eloquent or heartfelt tribute.
You will hear that from guitarists or at least from good ones at the end of a song in which they can hardly speak, many will laugh even though nothing at all funny has happened. It's not like going out to fight a dragon but you certainly go out to dance with one. So it was after the Lament and it was clear that Voodoo feels a tremendous loss over de Lucia's departure.
The favorite way for guitarists to slash themselves is through comparison to others. What point is there in playing when Paco was so much better. Am I not just insulting the instrument when I cannot play it like Hendrix. This is not trivial stuff as guitarists carry it every moment they're breathing.
Paco de Lucia has given Voodoo the finest gift any musician can give another: the challenge to be better. The biggest mistake Voodoo can make is to believe the challenge is to be better than Paco, actually the challenge is to be better than Voodoo. There's no way to be better than Paco, Satriani, or Hendrix as it makes no sense to try to improve a perfect thing.
Voodoo had already accepted the challenge of being a 'better Voodoo' as every week he pushes his music out in new ways, exploring, taking chances, and playing with consummate delicacy. There is no doubt in my mind that Paco would be proud.
Last night Voodoo Shilton played a Lament for Paco and it was a tremendously emotional piece. After it was over, I could hear a little choking in his voice when he tried to speak and Señor de Lucia could not have asked for a more eloquent or heartfelt tribute.
You will hear that from guitarists or at least from good ones at the end of a song in which they can hardly speak, many will laugh even though nothing at all funny has happened. It's not like going out to fight a dragon but you certainly go out to dance with one. So it was after the Lament and it was clear that Voodoo feels a tremendous loss over de Lucia's departure.
The favorite way for guitarists to slash themselves is through comparison to others. What point is there in playing when Paco was so much better. Am I not just insulting the instrument when I cannot play it like Hendrix. This is not trivial stuff as guitarists carry it every moment they're breathing.
Paco de Lucia has given Voodoo the finest gift any musician can give another: the challenge to be better. The biggest mistake Voodoo can make is to believe the challenge is to be better than Paco, actually the challenge is to be better than Voodoo. There's no way to be better than Paco, Satriani, or Hendrix as it makes no sense to try to improve a perfect thing.
Voodoo had already accepted the challenge of being a 'better Voodoo' as every week he pushes his music out in new ways, exploring, taking chances, and playing with consummate delicacy. There is no doubt in my mind that Paco would be proud.
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