Tells the legend that when the roman soldiers enter the valleys of Euskadi (Basque Land) heard the powerful sounds of wood that frightened their horses. This track selection extracted from Lezao (1993) starts with the beat of the txalaparta - always played by two people - and a Gregorian choir of 40 voices. Follows by De dos en dos -with Jorge Pardo- (1995) and Ten (1998). ´Síntomas´ could be the key: the telluric gallop of the "makilas" over the planks of wood, rhythmic verb of this archaic instrument that connects with the collective memory. Footprints of a past that Tomás San Miguel visualizes.

Tomás San Miguel (Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1953) is a craft man, with the patient of an archaeologist has search into his own language achieving something unique. Maybe he was after it without knowing how, since he left to study music to E.E:U.U., where he ended joining musicians like Stan Getz, Airto Moreira o Larry Coryell. But finally he found his unique voice, but much closer to his homeland: in the hamlet of Lezao near the mountain of Iturrieta (Basque Land)

In ´Pléyades´ the tambourine sounds strong - we are in the center of his home land under the vague sight of the stars - and come backs in ´Maurizia´, where also the alboka and the txistu - traditional Basque instruments - resounds. This CD is a glimpse of the pleasure of free creativity. Is the introspective game of music beginning from notes and silences. Out of this inner process as a composer emerge songs like ´Dos ángeles del cielo´, that Tomás San Miguel imagines with melancholy from the loneliness of his keyboards and beautiful accordion.

He shares in the way some seasons with the pilgrim friend Jorge Pardo. To the south the Mediterranean light of white Mojacar, celebrates his dialogs. Are ´Delirios del Rumbo´and ´Marejadilla´ where the keys evoke to Corea, Debussy o Mompou and the winds fly free. Or ´calma del alma´ where piano and flute sound flamenco.

Back to the north. The txalaparta closes the iniciatic trip. The wood from the tree, magic symbol, let us listen to its universal voice.

Text: Carlos Galilea

 

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