The identifying characteristics of TOMAS
SAN MIGUEL AND TXALAPARTA pass through the creation and
assimilation of a pure language based on the combination
between musical sounds and rhythms, whose result is three
recordings, “LEZAO”
(Nuevos Medios-Narada/Virgin 1994), “TEN”
(Nuevos Medios 1998) and “DAN-TXA” (Musimagic
2005 ).
“DAN-TXA”, the third part of
his project with Txalparta, is an encounter of accordion virtuoso
TOMAS SAN MIGUEL with the female bask txalapartaris “Ttukunak.”
and drummer-percussionist and coo-producer of this CD, Marlon
Klein, member founder of the legendary German band Dissidenten,
pioneer of the Ethno Beat sound.
Achieved in “DAN-TXA” is an integration
of the ancestral and ethnic aspects of Basque dances and rhythms
with contemporary sounds and grooves. Accordion, txalaparta,
percussions and other instruments combine and cohabit finding
an exceptionally unique aural aesthetic.
“DAN_TXA” name crated from the
concepts of Dance and Txalaparta is a chant to the universal
dance where the Txalaparta mixes down with rhythms from diverse
cultural sources achieving innovative mixes as: etno-txalaparta,
baiao-txalaparta, samba-txalaparta, fandango-txalaparta, trikitixa-trance-txalaparta,
bertso-txalaparta, chillout-txalaparta…etc.
Behind this meeting of musicians is hidden
a large process of meditation and reflection of experiences.
Tomás San Miguel
- composer of all the themes - has dedicated many years to
arrive at the maturity of his style, realized with patience
and silence, divorcing himself from any standard classification,
prejudgment or market trend.
Of the whole, the resulting music is difficult
to classify under one specific denomination, but retains the
common denominator of being universal.
The specialized press (Billboard, Rolling
Stone, Spotlight, El País, El Mundo and ABC), dedicated
headlines like the following to him:
"He is Truly Different, A Magnificent
Job, Evocative Memories of Mystery and Charm, Fascinating
and Exuberant Music, Powerful Meditations, An Original and
Impressive Fusion"...
TXALAPARTA
(chalaparta) is a primitive Basque rhythm based on the sound
produced by the vertical hit of the percussive stick and the
beam(s) of wood, stone or metal laid horizontally on their
cushioned supports. The sound originated with the imitation
of the gallop of a horse and has developed in recent years
into innovative rhythmic forms
The
sparks of the eve of St. John’s Day scorch the music
of this native of Alava, whose original vocation was to be
an archaeologist and who one day went to search for the light
of the Mediterranean.
The boards of the txalaparta, that ancestral wood that sounds
like the heartbeat of the land, were salvaged from those bonfires
of June. Tomás San Miguel collected the wood and two
youths from Vitoria, who call themselves Ttukunak, were astounded
by it. 'Dan_txa' is the third chapter of a story that began
just over ten years ago with 'Lezao' and later with 'Ten'.
Today, without a Gregorian choir, the writing is more festive.
This quartet is determined to continue creating beautiful
pages for its story: Tomás’s accordion dances
merrily with the makilak of Maika and Sara, on the programmings
and percussions of Marlon, the 'Dissidenten'.
Carlos Galilea- EL PAIS
Tomás San Miguel: accordion
Ttukunak: txalaparta
Marlon Klein: percussion, programings
and production
invited artists:
Jorge Pardo : flute
Antonio J.Gómez: guitar
