Kepa Junkera

Kepa Junkera closes his Trilogy of the Basque Folk Music ( started off with the albums ETXEA and KALEA ) with the album HERRIA. From November 16 it will be available in a double CD and digital format, in Warner edition.

The recording of the 23 songs has be recorded in New York, Oakland, Berkley, Paris, Casablanca, Istanbul, Athens, Boise, San Francisco Los Angeles, Hawaii and Bilbao.

(Text from EFE EME published the 28 Oct, 2010 in the category Spain Records , News)

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Published in DEIA, Oct. 21, 2010

There are moments in the life that one does not expect. They appear and invade everything around with a tremendous force, producing a kind of crash of sensations of the most surprising. Moments that are not expected enrich less. Unique experiences knowing that the transcendent and special they are, you begin to enjoy them long before they even take place. Next October 23 the Conservatory of Leioa celebrates their 30 anniversary. In order to celebrate such event the following choirs will participate: La Kantoría, San Juan Bautista Abesbatza y Leioa Kantika Korala, as well as the Young Orchestra of Leioa, they will perform in the Palacio Euskalduna Auditorium of Bilbao. In the first part of the act, the 3 choral associations directed by Basilio Astulez will sing, while after that it will be the turn of the Young Orchestra of Leioa under the direction of Margarita Lorenzo of Reizabal and finally to conclude the act with Magnificat of Josu Elberdin, in which I will personally collaborate. When they invited me for the concert my feelings were of an immense joy. It’s very special to be able to share stage with them. Not only for who are they, but to be able to experience many things by their side. I have always felt attracted by the sensation of discovering new values that happen after having taken care of one’s, taught and somehow given a shape. That labor of the county’s singers that they take care of, in every level, from very many young children that attend the conservatory, gyms…  It will be so exciting to be able to feel and experiencing next to them that young energy of new hopes and illusions. So important as in hearing them, is as to see them and being aware that all of them are the product of your their own personal effort, but at the same time of all and every one of the people of the Conservatory of Leioa. We know that it is easier to buy than to create, to check out than to teach but the reward on a personal and human level when you see all that effort you gave out to them is there and  amazing…it’s priceless.  Zorionak!  (Congratulations)

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A video of Youth choir of Leioa directed by Basilio Astulez , Kepa Junkera and Xabier Amuriza of the Album BETI BIZI …

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A small info video of the concert in Sofia.

Sofia, 27 Oct. ( EFE).- The musician from Bilbao, Kepa Junkera, gave forth in Sofia a moving and unforgettable spectacle of rhythms and traditional Basque sounds that made the Bulgarian audience fall in love, totally unknown music in the Balkan country that tonight he presents for the first time.

During almost two hours the composer, producer and the artist did not stop provoking admirations on behalf of the majority of 1,200 spectators that have been hypnotized by the magic of his interpretation of trikitixa, a typical Basque diatonic accordion.

The “the king of the accordion” surpassed the challenge of attracting the public with this instrument known in the Balkan country as typical of the folkloric music, but with a completely unknown and contagious tonality.

In addition to this Basque accordion, the spectators also had a good time with other musical instruments like the txalaparta, a kind of percussion whose thick board is hit in pairs with four sticks, and also the alboka, a traditional instrument of wind.

Junkera that was awarded in 2004 with a Grammy for the best Folkloric album, The Bulgarian’s auditorium untied surges of applauses for his interpretation, well-known to have the best acoustics of The Balkans, and also to make a speech in Bulgarian’s language, winning his way to the public.

News published in the newspaper ABC.

27-10-2010 / 23:40 h

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Published in DEIA, Oct. 14, 2010

TO INTERVIEW people, to be able to materialize somebody well known’s work or their professional and personal career in a very short time is something that can be considered an art. In many times it will be a famous person, but other times we have opportunity to be able to read, to see or to listen to a different and original interview, that allows you to discover the interviewee’s most interesting and valuable part. A little while ago the program “A vivir Euskadi” (To live The Basque Country) emitted what we recorded the cyclist, Igor Antón from Galdakao, and me, moderated by Aloña Velasco in which she joins two known characters to discuss side by side maintaining a social gathering. As soon as Igor, with his arm bandaged up of his last fall, and I sat at the table we felt comfortable with each other. The conversation was quite fluent and I felt much identified with him. We talked about a lot of things, of the similarities and the differences of our professions, of staying long days away from home, the nerves of the races or the concerts, of the previous ones, the nostalgias of our family, the friends, loneliness… Little by little I was discovering a humble and brave person to the fullest. I have always felt a great admiration for all these road warriors. People that fight to their exhaustion to find his way to the finish line. The very fact of imagining the effort is incredible that each and everyone of the cyclist’s members, from the first one to the very last one, they have to struggle in each lap, in each race. Looking into the Igor’s eyes I discover that incredible essence that has to have anyone that professionally climbs on the bicycle. It was fascinating to discover somebody like him, that saves in his gaze and in his shy smile the sacrifice and the dedication of a simple person, as nearly as all the ones that climb on top of the two wheels to demonstrate that still and thanks to their determination and their enthusiasm of overcoming, are able to reach farther away. Good Luck Igor in the future races, taken care on the road and a great, great deal of strength.

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Photo taken during the interview.

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Published in DEIA, Oct. 7, 2010

Midnight, surfing the Net trying to find something. I’m searching but I really don’t have a clear idea of what I want and then all of a sudden, a small but a shocking discovery that I am going to talk about, without even visiting it . The place is in the National Park “Ciénagas de Juan Manuel”, northwest of Venezuela, in the flowing river of Catatumbo and the lake Maraciabo. There takes place what today is named “El Relámpago Catatumbo” (Catatumbo Lightning).  A lightning that strikes in the same place between 140 and 160 nights a year. Every time that the phenomenon happens it shines brightly between 7 and 10 continuous hours, with a frequency of 50 discharges per minute, around 1,176,000 lightning’s per year, generating 10 % of the ozone layer of the planet. So it is that in only 10 minutes he could generate enough energy to turn on all the bulbs of South America. Scientists allege two reasons for this to happen always in the same place: On one hand the stagnation of thousands of thunderclouds that collide with the mountain ranges that surround the enclave and an the other hand the high concentration of methane gas . Every time I can I observe the electric storms that visit us. The different type of wind that announces the storm.  The lightning a true symbol of the ancestral and what’s uncontrollable. The spectacular main star of nature that still has been impossible for us to subdue and that interprets his character under the same script, time after time, since the world began. And finally the thunder, deafening companion that reminds us what we are and what we will never be able to be. In Venezuela they have the belief that the Catatumbo Lightning takes place because thousands of glowworms concentrate together at that point to honor the fathers of the Creation. I do not know what explanation, unscientific, we could give to the capricious distribution of our lightning’s, but as soon as I can I will enjoy their forms, lights and explosions again. A whole spectacle within the reach of everyone.

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Published in DEIA, Sept. 30, 2010

WHEN I think about José Antonio Labordeta it always comes to my mind the picture of that type of person who we all have at home, friendly, communicator, even having friends in hell and that begins to talk to any stranger around, establishing a generous and ally conversation, as if they known each other all their lives. It is of great virtue that normally accompanies the goodhearted, intelligent people and who loves to delight live life to its fullest. José Antonio Labordeta Subías was born in Zaragoza in March 1935 and he has been an authentic person where there are. Writer, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, actor, television host and politician are some of his occupations that this illustrious Aragonese has done during his life career. Without any doubt he is well known by the public in hosting the television program “Un País en la Mochila” (A Country in the Backpack) and for his facet as a congressman for the Chunta Aragonesista, Labordeta has also published 20 records and a long list of books that certify without any doubt the plurality and the eclecticism of this human being that in the course of his life has harvested the adhesions of some, the criticisms of others and the affection of almost all.  It catches my attention how there are ideals in life that it seems one cannot develop or evolving, beliefs that apparently can only have a road, a way of doing things. The same ones that denounce and accuse some people of controlling, to subjugate the will of others are then the first ones in doing exactly the same thing, obliging their fellow colleagues not to materialize their ideas under new points of view.

Once we shared stage, with some curious anecdotes and it was a pity that, already because of his health problems, he couldn’t participate in Etxea. But we are left with his example. The modus operandi of doing things as one believes he should do, without listening to no one, neither ones nor the others. The pure essence of a free man.

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Photo by J.F. Moreno, from the elmundo.es.

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Published in DEIA, Sept 23, 2010

THEY SAY that magic is something that exists but it can not be normally seen. I do not know if this is right, but what I do think is that when it appears, you feel it. September 18. I arrive to Iruna’s bullring (Pamplona). Greetings, hugs and a kind of tension that encourages you to feel the intensive the moment. With the so-called spectacle Amorena´s  Children – Amorenaren Kimuak celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Retinue of the Gigantes and Cabezudos (a carnival figure with an enormous head) of Iruña (Pamplona). A century and half of work, music, dance and the effort of several generations in pursuit of a common project. Absolutely enviable. In the course of the night you lived unique moments.  It was so curious to me to see the reconstructed workshop, which originally was in Estafeta Street, where the Agote Tadeo Amorena, had constructed the giants. I couldn’t stop looking at them. So enormous and dancing in an amazing way, surrounded by the kilikis and zaldikos joining along with the music a fascinating collage. 14,000 exultant people in the stands shared with all of us that fantastic and unforgettable moment. They participated among others, groups like The Pamplonesa, Jarauta, gaiteros (the bagpipers) and txistularis (the Basque flutist) of the Town Council of Iruña and Josetxo Goia who composed a special theme for this occasion. While I was interpreting the theme Muskerraren Balsa & La Balso de Comoboscuro from my record Bilbao Hora 00.00h, with the ally of the giants dancing, I came to realize how marvelous the results come out of a theme composed in a determined moment and under some concrete circumstances and when you present it, it begins to sustain life and then, one does not know where it is headed to neither the roads it will take. Giants, zaldikos and kilikis, came to life, one more time, forging stories that joined the people in a collective way in becoming magical that join illusions, efforts and hopes. Mila esker (Thank you) for sharing it with me and zorionak (congratulations) to you all.

Photograph by Javier Sesma

A short video of that performance:  Kepa with the Gigantes.

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