en
fr
Winsberg & JALEO
Sunnyside Communications
3013, 2001
artist website
Jaleos are the archetypal shouts of encouragement during Flamenco performances – Olé, Hassah, or rapidly shared excited commentary, proffered by the hand clappers, foot stompers, dancers or other musicians when a particular soloist does something exceptionally memorable or inspired. Jaleo is also the title of today’s CD, thus indicating that the entire performance is meant as one loud shout of encouragement and appreciation, for Flamenco as an art form per se. And that’s indeed the case. The well-known origin of the Gipsies in Rajasthan — migrating to Europe and, in turn, settling at various outposts along this route to become Roms, Tziganes, Gippos, Persians, Egyptians, Moors, Gitanos, Sinti, Manouche, Zigeuner and Andalucians — serves as the inspiration for Louis Winsberg’s homage to all things Gipsy.
Born in the South of France near Avignon and growing up embedded in the milieu of night-long Gipsy juergas, Winsberg who plays electrical, acoustical and Flamenco guitars, electric sitar, bouzouq, mandolin, oud, rebab and E-bow, surrounds himself with a very strong cadre of supporters. There’s Jean-Baptise Marino on traditional Flamenco guitar; Nanda Kumar on tabla, Indian percussion and vocals; Jose Montealegre on Cante Jondo lead vocals; Norbert Lucarain on vibraphone, marimba, percussion, Jews harp and background vocals; Jean-Christophe Maillard on synthesizers, saz, steel guitar and backgound vocals; Isabel Pelaez on lead/background vocals, dance and palmas; and Miguel Sanchez on cajon, percussion and palmas.