The show was called Cadiz … “Salty clarity”. And the question remains the same since a thousand years ago and now: What does Cadiz have? What does it have so that even the lady of the first row in Tablao Cordobes seemed last night born in the little silver cup (another way of calling someone from Cádiz). She was cheering David Palomar while he was singing for alegrías, tientos tantos, tangos or carnival chuflas (different flamenco styles). The singer from Cadiz accumulates so much magnet that it is normal that, even if accompanied, he attracts all eyes. He is sense of humour, yes, but also knowledge. And he knows how to behave, because you have to be very magnetic to get on a stage with that security.

But yesterday, Palomar was not alone, because the group that stepped on the scenario was also high-level and therefore the crowd cheered on, not only the cantaor, but also the rest of the picture. And the crowd did it in English, pseudo Spanish and even in Catalan, who would have imagined it. And take note, they were on stage until February 26th, but they will return in March.

The one that received olés without restrictions is the one that is always the cherry on top: Rosario Toledo, that martyr of the dance, that could have been actress of mute cinema, singer of coplas, conceptual artist, dancer, or all together, which is what she is. She danced with Marco Flores, who cannot be won in elegance neither in Cadiz nor in the whole planet, and with Jesús Fernández, whom Miriam Valllejo sang (Miriam is not from Cadiz, but it does not matter because she, with that intensity and broken voice, can be from anywhere) a soleá (flamenco style) that Jesus danced to eat her eyes. But Toledo is queen, and now alone and for alegrías ended up singing adorned with a mustard colored shawl, which is rich but bitter, to bring liveliness to drama and laughter to satire.

“You see what a crisis this country lives in,” Anabel Rivera said, a singer who has the gift of always putting everything on the grill, including the heart, that beated to death last night for bulerías. The picture was completed by three great guitarists: Javier Patiño, David Cerreduela and Juan José Alba. And to the cante (sing), also was the Quini of Jerez, that added seasoning to the plate, which had salt already, but accompanied not only the dance, the cante, the guitars and the public with the voice and with his body, turning into flour with which they just put the ingredients together.

The show was tablao quality, unpretentious, honest and fun. A taste of what they know in Cadiz. There was no story, but common thread, and the best, there was good taste and a sacred respect for the audience. With two arrangements, four more details and a bigger stage, they could take this show wherever they want. That is the difference between choosing good artists or starting a scene with bad ones, as in other tablaos in Barcelona. Last night, the reaction of the public was wonderful, nothing to do with what is seen in other places in the city. Because tourists are not stupid, they are just from another country. 

Silvia Cruz Lapeña. deflamenco.com

https://www.deflamenco.com/revista/resenas-actuaciones/gaditanos-de-otro-planeta-1.html