Teo, Jesús and Matthew: from Seville with love (on flamenco guitar)

Three students, three. Just a sample. But how well chosen, by God, because in front of the camera they draw back the curtains and reflect bare-chested on the experience of spending one or two years of their lives in Seville, one of the cradles of flamenco. Teo Mendez (Costa Rica), Jesus Gallo (Mexico) and Matthew J. Serra (USA) have made such a decision because, first, some chords of Paco de Lucía crossed their paths and, second, they need to know how that music we call art works. flamenco, that blessed connection of the six strings with the cante and dance. And to advance in the learning of flamenco guitar, a profession that they wish to take up professionally, they have chosen the Centro de Estudios Flamencos Performing Arts Rebollar (AER), in the Seville neighbourhood of Rochelambert, directed by the masters Eduardo Rebollar and Yolanda Lorenzo. A temple of pure jondo and cosmopolitanism in the old Híspalis.

In this audiovisual talk, which began with a lively scene accompanying the dance, we had the opportunity to see how Teo, Jesús and Matthew handle the flamenco guitar. Teo spoke of spirituality, of mental strength. Of the guitar bugs who inhabit the Andalusian land. Of that flame lit by not knowing what is going to happen. Of that girlfriend who has not seen her for two weeks (metaphor for Andalusia). Of continuing the direction that passions point to. Matthew, who is also touring North America with his rock band, delves into the magic of accompaniment, in Tomatito's fingers. He is clear that he will always return to Seville, always.Who decided that Pennsylvania should not be near Seville? "What a bummer!" he asks himself. For his part, Jesus says that in his musical explorations around the world he has not found anything that fulfills him as much as the flamenco and he just wants to never be alone again, that is, to stay close to the scene of the cante and dancing. As an epilogue, some words from Professor Rebollar, who reminds them that the guitarist always works harder and earns less. “Playing the guitar is a pain, I'm going to give up,” he says.

«The truth is that I have not found any other music that fulfills me as much as a person and to which I feel so committed as the flamenco» (Jesus Gallo)