The Jazz Man of Santiago de Compostela

[Deleted member 67185]

I was going through a few souvenirs that I had shipped home from SdC, and I found a couple of CDs that I had purchased from the JazzMan while he was performing near the Cathedral. I've had the chance to spend time talking with him in while in Santiago the last two years after finishing Camino. The guy has a great performance resume that includes working at clubs and as a recording studio guitarist (same as Glenn Campbell did before he became known and famous).

Anyway, it has been great to pop them into the CD transport, crank up the volume through the Bowers and Wilkins speakers, and just sit back, listen, and reminisce about SdC.

A couple of YouTube clips I tracked down of the guy performing in SdC. They do not do justice to his playing

 

[Theatregal]

Forgive me @davebugg (Not my intention to highjack the focus of your thread) I only write this because I’ve always been curious. I've watched JazzMan several times and enjoyed his playing but wonder about his use of a black face mask. Perhaps if it were just a plain black mask, it might be assumed he just didn't want his identity known but it's the large red lips that turn it into a racist "minstrel show" image. When you talked with him did he make mention of it?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Forgive me @davebugg - I only write this because I’ve always been curious. I've watched him several times and enjoyed his playing but wonder about his use of a black face mask. Perhaps if it were just a plain black mask, it might be assumed he just didn't want his identity known but it's the large red lips that turn it into a racist "minstrel show" image. When you talked with him did he make mention of it?

Yes, I did. Being a Native American Indian, I was curious about it. However, he is not American, and what was clear as we spoke is that what is considered 'racist' does not have the same context culturally as it has in the States. His take on it is that he feels that the great jazz guitarists were African Americans.

I do not justify how he presents himself, nor do I agree with the mask, nor do I appreciate his talent any less because of it. He is not caucasian. Each person can make their own call.

 

[Deleted member 56069]

That brought back some good memories Dave. Another guitarist I enjoyed back in 2016 and 2017 was Javier Pardo. He usually set up near the stairs on the back side of the cathedral. I did record him playing, but it is on another device. I did find a YouTube of one of his songs.
I did buy his CD in 2017.
I didn't see Javier either in 2018 or 2019 after my Camino's

 

[Deleted member 56069]

A little more searching on YouTube and I found this video of Javier Pardo playing at the cathedral.