Lennon, Fado, and Everything in Between
Forty-five years ago today, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his home in New York City. I was living in Victoria, B.C., an entire lifetime ago. I remember reading that shocking – and breaking – news running across the bottom of my TV screen, and it took hours to find out what happened. Today, it would take mere seconds.
I chatted briefly with David Flannery last evening after an amazing concert at Nacho Daddy, when he made a comment about my upcoming ‘retirement.’ He also seemed to think it was common knowledge that I was fading into the wallpaper.
I am not, repeat, NOT retiring. What IS going away is the Vallarta Mirror and the Rearview Mirror, at the end of this year. I will continue to review shows and write about life in our fair city, which will continue to be published at VallartaCalendar.com (Around Town) and on Facebook. So, nothing will change for those who read me, and everything will change for me, freeing up my days away from my computer, which is exacerbating a neck problem I am trying to get to the bottom of. So, onto what I got up early this morning to write about!
Fado.
The traditional music of Portugal, brought to brilliant light yesterday at Nacho Daddy by Tromba Vetusta, aka Alejandra Matus and Dabit Azofeifa. This gorgeous couple from Costa Rica has enthralled us for the past four or five years in a number of productions – all of them full of surprises, wonder, and childlike awe, the kind only generated by the circus.
Last night was new in so many unexpected ways. With the exception of a few songs I had heard Ale and Dabit perform before, the emotionally charged music was uncharted territory for unsuspecting ears. Our supremely delighted ears by the end of the nearly two-hour concert. Ale was simply beautiful to watch and to listen to, her voice soaring into sweetness mingled with tears, ours and her own. Her duet with Diego Guerrero could have been a brand new career launch for both of them, so heartfelt, moving, and hauntingly lovely.
Fado Night borrowed the only female aerialist/acrobat from Airotic’s ‘Tease’ over at Coco Cabaret to contort and tumble her perfectly muscled body right before our unbelieving eyes! Don’t miss that show, and don’t miss the next Fado Night coming in about 30 days. I will let you know the exact date.
The First Saturday at Arte Vallarta Museo featured Mexican printmaker Alejandro Barreto, who studied in and has blended Russian folk heroes and styles with those of North America. Alejandro says his Russian is better than his English, which was certainly sufficient to personally lead a curious bunch of expats to view his colorful body of work upstairs at the Museo. Arte Vallarta Museo also featured Montse singing jazz and doing it very well indeed! Check VallartaCalendar.com for more information on this talented young woman and her tribute to Michael Jackson.
See you at Casa Karma tomorrow at 6 for the Vallarta Garden Club‘s Welcome Back party, From Here!
