Two Cries for Freedom (Dos Gritos de Libertad)

Billboard
"The quality of their cante jondo (deep song), the Spanish equivalent of the Delta Blues, is remarkable."

Product Description
The gypsies in Spain are looked down upon as "suspicious foreigners", who travel in large families. They are perceived as entrepreneurs in thievery, con games, drug dealing and extorting money from tourists and elderly citizens. Like the African-American situation in this country, a disproportionate number of young adult gypsies are in prison or on probation. In fact, they are an enterprising people with strong family ties, extensive religious rituals and their own strict laws, dating back hundreds of years.

In a country internationally recognized for it's culture of flamenco song, music and dancing, the gypsies reign supreme. The various state provincial governments (juntas) in Spain, along with all the state accredited national flamenco clubs (penas), decided to select the very best inmate singers of flamenco in Spanish jails by running a national contest open to all incarcerated prisoners.

One hundred and fifty inmates, from many different jails, responded by sending in demo cassettes of their singing voices. Many jails were represented, including Malaga, Valencia, Madrid, Alomorca, Barcelona, Sevilla, Ocana, Cuenca and Jaen. Thirty finalists were selected and escorted from their provincial jails by the armed Spanish Guardia Civil to the prison of Cordoba for the final selection of the best singer. The contestants were backed by the foremost flamenco guitarists, clappers and shouters (jaleo) in the flamenco world. The ultimate reward - 5,000 pesetas and the reduction of the sentence being served.

Two Cries for Freedom (Dos Gritos de Libertad)

Tracks:

Bulerias - Jose Serrano
Solea - Jose Serrano
Alegrias - Jose Serrano
Taranto - Jose Serrano
Tangos - Jose Serrano
Seguiriyas - Antonio 'El Agujetas'
Bulerias - Antonio 'El Agujetas'
Malaguenas - Antonio 'El Agujetas'
Solea - Antonio 'El Agujetas'
Fandangos - Jose Serrano/Antonio 'El Agujetas'

Album Description

The gypsies in Spain are looked down upon as "suspicious foreigners", who travel in large families. They are perceived as entrepreneurs in thievery, con games, drug dealing and extorting money from tourists and elderly citizens. Like the African-American situation in this country, a disproportionate number of young adult gypsies are in prison or on probation. In fact, they are an enterprising people with strong family ties, extensive religious rituals and their own strict laws, dating back hundreds of years.

Customer Reviews:

Two Cries for Freedom (Dos Gritos de Libertad).......2001-10-30

Excellent example of cante jondo and pure, traditional Flamenco. Antonio "El Agujetas" has an interesting voice that really works in this style of Flamenco. Hard-core Flamenco.

A journey.......2000-04-01

An album with a meaningful background and a purposeful result. Buy this album. But don't stop here with your journey into the world of flamenco.

!toma ya!.......1999-03-10

memories... a warm summer night in Jerez de la Frontera, Espana.....not the same musicians, these guys were in prison....but the same emotions....the old ladies knew every song and clapped along...... This is the real stuff! !Toma ya!

Two Cries for Freedom (Dos Gritos de Libertad)

Average customer rating:

Two Cries for Freedom (Dos Gritos de Libertad)
Jose Serrano & Antonio el Agujetas
Manufacturer: Last Call Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Flamenco | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Tracks: