Published by DEIA, June 16, 2011

AN anniversary is something that does not have less relevance because of its repetitive, it depends the same one belonging to the nature of the event that stands out.

Next Saturday, June 18, will have place in the Church of San Juan Bautista Saint of Leioa a very special concert that will begin the 10^th year celebration of Leioa Kantika Korala, a commemoration that reflects the effort of many people making won choral music, albums and with a great deal, very much, talent. At 8:30 p.m., and in addition to Kantika, also will participate in the same act, the juvenile chorus of feminine voices The Kantoria and San Abesbatza, of mixed voices, all belonging to the Municipal Conservatory´s Choral School of Leioa, inaugurating three compositions entrusted and written specially for that day by Xabier Sarasola, Josu Elberdin and Javier Busto.

I have always sought to intertwine the sound of the different instruments among themselves. The sum of their personalities is a magical combination. The voice is the most complex and perfect instrument God forbid existed and the sound that it is capable to express  has gotten to excite us during thousands of years that we all have brought ourselves near to that so complex and demanding world. For some time now I have been collaborating with Leioa Kantika Korala, trying to investigate, to discover and to create next to them, a whole world of shared sonorities, converting this collaboration in a fascinating adventure and a true pleasure.

In future dates Leioa Kantika Korala will share their music through the  Catalan lands, the French Provence and Sunday, July 24 in Zornotza Amorebieta, next to the great Xabier Amuriza and ourselves, that we will present, one more time, the spectacle Beti Bizi, with a fusion of voices, ancient Biscayan ballads, melodies of dance and a lot of illusion.

With the most ancient, the voice, you write down new full spaces of shades, colors and textures that I am absolutely delighted by…  ZORIONAK eta mila esker!!! (Congratulations and Thank you!!!)

Share on Facebook

Published by DEIA, Feb. 10, 2010

Sometimes often it is said that already all is invented, that there is nothing new under the sun. I believe that it is not exactly true and that even if experience, sometimes, demonstrates that what seems to be new it is not; the truth is that the human being not only needs to create things but also has to believe that they are new. What’s complicated begins at the time of defining what is new and not.

Today Thursday, at the central office of Euskaltzaindia (The Official Basque Language Academy) in the New Plaza of Bilbao and during the days organized by Bilbo Zaharra Euskaltegia under the title “Beti Bizi, Zaharra Berri” Xabier Amuriza and I will try to deepen into the different aspects related with the project BETI BIZI that we released, side by side last year.

In this work we found many of the elements that make reference of before to introduce the theme. On one side the ancient Biscayan ballads recovered thanks to the enormous work of Xabier Amuriza, one of those people that when one meets him remains dazzled by the human quality and the knowledge that he treasures within and that, mixed with a work capacity and an amazing persistence , makes  the best traveling companion for a project of these characteristics. In addition, we have the melodies used always in the world of the dance and the traditional dance as well explained by Amuriza we worked to adorn the above-mentioned ballads and, finally, fusing it all with electronic music to reach up to a different atmosphere that suits in a special way to all the components of the project.

We will talk about it and how it relates with the popular  literature, in a intimate act, with the public being a few meters away becoming an active part of the event and sharing an only and special environment.

What’s simple, what’s natural, is always the best road to success. The most important findings have always been preceded of evident analysis that it seemed impossible not to have gotten there before. I suppose that we will not make big discoveries but I assure you that we will have a good time with the ballads, the music and our encounter.

www.kepajunkera.com

Share on Facebook

KEPA Junkera is a great ambassador for the Basque country, and his concerts rarely disappoint. His trikitixa music, played on a variety of diatonic accordions, is accompanied by his inspiring band which includes the attractive sound of the txalaparta, a wooden xylophone-like instrument struck by a duo armed with rounded sticks.

Junkera often has a surprise up his sleeve and this time it was Leioa Kantika Korala, 15 young women led by Basilio Astulez. Their vocal harmonies were enhanced by choreographed moves whose sensual fluidity, visually enhanced by the sway of their multicoloured silken harem pants, added a captivating visual dimension.

However, having transformed the music of Basque mountain shepherds into something alluringly feel-good, Junkera makes no attempt to tell us what we’re listening to. It was a tad frustrating to have a sequence of a dozen songs sung in Europe’s most esoteric language with no explanation from the stage as to their subject and no good old-fashioned programme to inform us.

These imaginative settings of ancient ballads of the Bay of Biscay, collected by improvising bertsolari poet Xabier Amuriza, use beautiful melodies and in novel style several involve recorded fragments of Mongolian throat-singing. While the meaning remains a mystery, the overall effect was joyfully bucolic, as the women’s clear, light voices wove glittering tapestries of sound. Crowned by Junkera’s rapid-fire playing and his band’s witty use of stamping tubes and an electrified cow’s horn, this was a uplifting night defined by intriguing innovation.

Share on Facebook

The choirs of Bermeo and Leioa Kantika will also perform in tonight´s concert in favor of the town´s ikastola.

Published in DEIA by Ander Egiluz Beramendi

January 15, 2010

Bilbao. The Ikastola Eleizalde of Bermeo was left out of a concert by Kepa Junkera at the Ibiladi; Not for lack of interest of the trikitilari of Rekalde, but because his agenda was making him travel every day to one outermost point of the orb, in the period in which he found himself absorbed in the finalization of the macro project Etxea, Kalea, Herria. However, such and as the persons in charge of the ikastola explained, he promised to attend the fishing locality with an important project. The word of an artist or simply, Junkera’s word. This very day, in the evening doorstep, at 20:00 o’clock Junkera and a long cast of collaborators will give the beginning tour of BetiBizi. A tour that will allow listening to euskaldunes´sounds no more than less in the prestigious Glasglow Celtic Connections among other destinies.

“It will be a special, different concert”, tell us yesterday the bertsolari and writer Xabier Amuriza, the evening before the spectacle in which he will also participate. And, it is that, all the lyrics sung in the record BetiBizi are ancient ballads compiled in the course of the years by the “etxanotarra”. An arduous job that they added on to them to make suitable those verses to “sounds and melodies fixed for dance”, that Amuriza explained to us.

It´s been a long time that Amuriza did not present himself in front of such a massive public, since the bertsosaios in which he shows up often are, principally, in less repercussion’s squares. “But this is our project and I want to be there,” saying. The Frontón Artza, with its 890 localities – still have available seats and the ticket offices of the enclosure will open at 18,30 o’clock – -, it will be the stage of a spectacle that will have Kepa Junkera and his habitual band, the juvenile chorus Leioa Kantika Korala,  in charge of recording the voices of the record and with great experience in foreign countries, the Coral of Bermeo and Xabier Amuriza, that he will delight with bertsos, will present the act and  will join togther the corals in the two last songs of the concert . “Being a concert in favor of the ikastola of Bermeo it is totally understanding that the coral of the locality wants to participate”, Amuriza tells us.  To  what he added on , “and for that, at the end of the concert we will sing several songs typical of Bermeo” And those melodies most probable are Joxe Miguelen batela and Egia da, egia da, both recovered by the proper Junkera in his habitual repertoire. Although Gaztaina koloreko, belonging to the album and in which Amuriza puts voice, has a good chance.

Innovative spectacle Even Though it is true that the concert will focus on the presentation of BetiBizi, such and as Amuriza advanced, the direct will count with five moments: Two of them in which Kepa and his band will warm up the Artza’s environment; Other ones two with more harmonious, by the hand of Leioa Kantika Korala, directed, as it is habitual, for Basilio Astulez-, and with Junkera as a solo performer.  Ending with a strong finale in which all the all-comers of the concert will sing the classical melodies “bermeanas”.

“I am very excited – Amuriza sincerely talking-; the ballads sung by the young girls and with the style of Kepa, in a place like Bermeo “.  A beginning of a stylish tour and with a terrific ending.

Share on Facebook

Published in DEIA, Nov. 18, 2010

WHEN after an adventure that I have lived this past year and with the results in your hand to present it in public, you can feel all types of sensations. You always create some kind of profound respect of everyone’s opinion towards your work. . One knows all that he has lived, felt, and even what it represents for him all that he has experienced in life, but the great question that always comes to my mind is: How do I make myself express to others and to make them have an image, the closest possible, of the outcome? Herria is one of the most special and intensive albums that I have had opportunity to present. Recorded in New York, Oakland, Paris, Casablanca, Istanbul, Athens, Boise Idaho, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Antonio Texas, Hawaii and Bilbao, this record is like the final attainment of an incredible project. In this occasion I have counted with the help, among others, of Eleftheria Arvanitaki, the voices of Chelle’s and Friends, the quintet of Dave Douglas, the incredible All Nations Singers, the people of the Boise´s Choir, NOKA, Amuma Says No, the Texan music and so on, more then 130 artists of 28 countries or writers like Bernardo Atxaga and my friend Xabier Amuriza. A whole challenge of agendas, journeys, airports, taxis, education, schedules etc. Remembering the previous ones Etxea and Kalea, Herria has supposed a new turn around focus, something like curling the curl just a little more of the efforts and the complicities of it all. I do not exaggerate if I say that I am very proud of the outcome. It is not a perfect work but definitely I have counted on great collaborators and the perfect team. Result: 23 songs in which we have overturned to the last straw of what we have inside, literally emptiness, in a job that I hope will produce oceans of sensations in all those who decide to undertake this journey, around the world, just like our ancestors carried out in search of a better life. Kaixo denori, hona hemen Herria!

www.kepajunkera.com

Share on Facebook

EITB KULTURA: Nov 16 2010

This time, the Basque accordionist has surrounded himself with musicians from U.S. A., Madagascar, Greece and Korea. In these new versions we will find folk, jazz, gospel and rhythms of the Indian tribes.

Today Kepa Junkera begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting has presented his third and last new record HERRIA of his trilogy being first “Etxea” (2008) followed by “Kalea” (2009). The three records gather the traditional folksongs in euskera (Basque language), interpreted by musicians from outside of the Basque Country.

In Herria (Town), the Basque accordionist has surrounded himself with non Latin interpreters of musical cultures and having contact in the area of folk music. This new album includes 23 songs recorded in Paris, Istanbul, Casablanca and in the North American cities of New York, San Francisco, St. Antonio, Los Angeles, Oakland, Boise and Hawaii.

The sounds are a slight different with new instruments”, Junkera has said in the presentation of his new album in Bilbao. The record reflects the cities´ music’s of where it was been recorded, so that the Basque songs appears with version as the rhythms of the Indian tribes, tex mex , with the musicians of Flaco Jiménez, jazz of New York by the hand of Dave Douglas´s quartet, gospel or the sound of the lyre, the ukulele or the wind instruments of Armenia and Turkey.

This project started off in 2008 with Etxea (House), in which Junkera surrounded himself with musicians of the Iberian Peninsula and the caribbean that they sang in euskera. Miguel Bosé, Ana Belén, Loquillo, Jaime Urrutia, Santiago Auserón, María del Mar Bonet, Estrella Morente, Michel Camilo and Dulce Pontes are some of the voices that took part in that first record.

In Kalea (Street), Latin American were the ones that interpreted and sang the Basque song: Juanes, Lito Vitale, Viticus, Pablo Milanés, Julieta Venegas …

The trikitixa’s interpreter has highlighted that in the three albums the participating musicians have had freedom to make of Basque folksongs “theirs” with “no limitations”, although “the main thread is the strength of the Basque songs” and euskera. Junkera has thanked the writers José Saramago, who passed away last June, Bernardo Atxaga and Xabier Aumuriza for the prefaces that they made for these records.

Video-clip  HERRIA

Video-clip TRILOGY:  ETXEA  KALEA  HERRIA

Share on Facebook

BETI BIZI is Kepa Junkera´s new project accompanied by Xabier Amuriza and the female voices of the choir KANTIKA.

On Monday an interview was recorded for the cultural program of the Public Basque Television (EiTB) “EiTB Kultura” with Kepa Junkera and Xabier Amuriza, writer / bertsolari (improviser of oral verses) explaining all the details of this new album BETI BIZI.

Also in the interview we could count on the participation of the girls from the choir “LEIOA KANTIKA KORALA” who joined in with the accordion music of Kepa Junkera and the voice of Xabier Amuriza interpreting several songs of the album.

The program was recorded in a unique setting such as the Nature Interpretation Center Tower Madariaga located in one of the most privileged spots of the natural park of Urdaiba, in Busturia.

It is believed that the interview will be released on the 17^th of August in ETB 2, in Spanish while the 19^th of August it will be broadcasted in ETB 1 in Euskera, the basque language.

www.kepajunkera.com

Share on Facebook

Published on July 1, 2010 by DEIA

Innovate and create something new, propose options, so far unknown, is something that is becoming increasingly hard. There is on one hand a simple calculation of probability and the other partly because our sense of wonder is narrowing a bit. Today, thanks to new technologies, our access to information is almost constant and in this globalized world we call that with one click of our mouse can travel virtually from one continent to another; it seems that nothing is going to draw attention. A few years ago the writer and bertsolari (Basque improviser singer) Xabier Amuriza had compiled a series of old Biscay songs among those that had carried out a selection and released an album that had a wide acceptance. But he still had remained material for another recording project and asked me if I was interested in working. Right away I said yes and began to imagine and intuit different ways to carry out this project. Of course, if I start to think about what I first imagined this album would be and it what it has finally become, the truth is that I am gobsmacked. Bizi Beti is the result of merging between the old Biscayan’s ballads, the voices of Leioa Kantika Korala completing the final product with the merge of the same with electronic music, resulting in a new recording project with a different proposal, brave and without complex. But getting here is essential to have the talent and dedication of a large team of people. I want to thank a very special way to Jose Luis Canal by schedules and arrangements he has been carried out, Basilio Astulez, Leioa Kantika Korala, Xabier Sarasola for that very special vision he has contributed to this album, and most particularly to Xabier Amuriza, great supporter of this project and I appreciate his generosity in sharing it with me. And finally each and every one of those who have taken part in this record, because to me all the notes are equally important, both the rhythm just as the melody.

www.kepajunkera.com

Share on Facebook

A new step forward of the trikitixa

Amuriza, Leioa Kantika Junkera Koral and joining tradition and modernity in assigning “surprising”

Published by Ander Egiluz Beramendi for DEIA on July 4, 2010

Betibizi. Immortelle. It is the flower that is placed on the lapel of the dancers, and is the title of the new album with the signature of  Xabier Amuriza, Leioa Kantika Koral, along with the inexhaustible Kepa Junkera. “The title has a double meaning,” says the bertsolari of Etxano-“On one side is a direct reference to the flower of the dancers, a tribute to them all, and secondly the demand for the dance, of its vitality and eternity”.

The album, published by Hiri Records, has great coral presence, also having the  trikitixa of Junkera and with the foundations on ancient ballad Biscayan´songs and classical melodies of dance that Amuriza has collected and sorted. But it does not sound as expected. The CD, shocks you, a lot. “People may be surprised,” the musician of Rekalde sincerely says. “It’s an album to enjoy listening to in hi-fi system”. And if anything characterizes the large group that has join together in this project- so many names that always one is always left behind, is the obsession for a work well done. “I’ve been very careful with this recording because I know how Xabier works and the time he has spent on its and I wanted to be at the height of the circumstances,” says the trikitilari.

With a copy in his hand, Amuriza laughs from the little that the CD holds in comparison with the books in which, ten years ago, recovered the verses. “So much work and so little presence,” jokes the two of them, with a very good reason: the first steps of the project were taken “almost nine years ago!”, exclaims Junkera.

The label market situation also is not at all buoyant and explains the musician, “it will become increasingly more difficult to make records like this, many years of work.” But creativity can not stop on breaking down barriers.

Innovate

Beyond the triki and tambourine

What is most striking in the first electronic sounds heard that the artist used for this. The album is the second part of a project that Amriza began more than a decade, with the recording Bizkaiko kopla zaharrak, in which Tapia ta Leturia participated. On that occasion the result was more classic, “The Sound of lifelong triki with melodies and lyrics together forever,” says Xavier. But for this second part I wanted to change the recording -there fits the idea of mixing dance tunes with other types of ballads-, and who became his traveling companion, Kepa Junkera, also soughing  new atmospheres. “It has always caught my attention to play differently,” honestly speaking Junkera. “Not always playing the triki with the tambourine.

The “hunger and appetite” got together, two natural born innovators, ground-breakers, each in his personal field.  Xabier revolutionized improvisation by showing that it was not a privilege of gifted persons and Kepa did the same to bring trikitixa to dispute in the market, and often to pull it off, with the mass of radio pop formulas. On their innovative impulses Amuriza believes that “we must be daring.” “Also, at that moment you do not realize the impact of those changes retrospectively. Perhaps we are looking too far into the future …”

Kepa Junkera, despite of always seek new ways for that “infernal bellows” -like he called the triki in his first album, “it´s still thrilling in a special way with the most classic sound of the trikitixa:  “Fasi, Epelde, Leon Bilbao… were persons with a special charisma and when I hear those sounds something stirs up inside of me.” But this time, in addition to the innovations proposed by Xabier and the electronic bases, the guy of Rekalde “I wanted to do new things with the choir.” And that’s where Astulez Basilio comes in, the director of Leioa Kantika Koral, “a man who does an awesome job,” according to Junkera. He was a great challenge for a choir because, for one, it meant to record separately and in one same microphone the alto, bass … But the final result has been impeccable. “It’s exciting to see a group of girls so young and so serious liking to do new things,” says Junkera.

This type of projects “stimulate the imagination and inspiration and making you enjoy it,” says rekaldetarra (a person born in the Rekalde) proudly looking at the CD. “And that is important,” he adds. Both artists agreed that sentimentally finishing the job “is a prided.” To which Kepa adds that Betibizi “is an album that gives us fresh air.” New and innovative. Something about what Amuriza reconsiders in the preface of the album: “The effect has been fascinating.” It will cushion the effect for the conversion of novelty in practice?”  Not so. May it continue to open new paths, even if the circumstances appear to be adverse.  A great album.

www.kepajunkera.com

Share on Facebook

Kepa Junkera´s new release BETI BIZI is now on sale.

The album presented under the seal HIRI RECORDS is the latest work of the musician of Rekalde (a neighborhood of Bilbao) for the moment, with the collaboration of the writer and “bertsolari” (Basque improviser singer) Xabier Amuriza and the voices of the choir LEIOA KANTIKA KORALA.

A different and innovative album with that special touch of Kepa Music seals the unmistakable style of this project.  A brave, energetic album that brings together our past with our present, in an elegant proposal without complexes, a CD that will surprise everyone who listens.

BETI BIZI on sale and also in Internet, for more information “CLICK HERE”

Share on Facebook