Blog

Carmen París: A celebration of a world without borders

Written By Fernando Gonzalez
October 14, 2019 at 2:39 PM

The music of Spanish singer and songwriter Carmen París suggests a celebration of a world without borders. Born in Catalonia but raised in Zaragoza, Aragon, París embraced jota Aragonesa, the best-known traditional style from the region. But she didn’t just stay in place. She updated jota and re-energized it by opening it up to the world, drawing elements and instruments from seemingly disparate sources including Cuban music and Indian and Middle Eastern traditions. Parishas proven to be fearless, tangling with jazz (as in her brilliant debut Pa’ Mi Genio 2002, with pianist Chano Dominguez) and big bands (Ejazz con jota, 2013) but also freely mixing jota and ranchera, Castilian folk rhythms and cha cha cha, as she did in albums such as Jotera Lo Serás Tú (2005) or In-Cubando (2008). As for the lyrics in her music, she has not only written her own but also from the folk tradition and the poetry of Pablo Neruda, José Martí and Federico García Lorca.

On her page, París describes “En Sintesis” (Summing Up) the concert she will present in Miami, as “a bouquet of the most significant songs” from her 30-year career. More often than not, fusion in popular music results in unhappy compromises, but in the hands of Carmen París, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Call it fusion, jota, jazz or Cuban music, nothing sounds quite like this.

Carmen Paris; photo credit Noah Shaye

What: Spanish singer and songwriter Carmen París with pianist Diego Ebbeler and percussionist Jorge Tejerina. Presented by the Centro Cultural Español de Miami

Where: Miami Dade County Auditorium, Black Box Theatre. 2901 West Flagler St., Miami.

When: Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m. 

TICKETS: $28; $18 for CCE members. For tickets visit the Miami Dade County Auditorium box office, call 305-547-5414, or check online at www.miamidadecountyauditorium.org

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of theater, dance, visual arts, music and performing arts news. Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a story.

latest posts

UNLEASHING YOUNG CREATIVITY: GOGO MOAD PROGRAM

Written By Ana Maria Carrano,

The Museum of Art and Design at MDC offers an annual membership for families aimed at inspiring and nurturing the next generation of art enthusiasts and philanthropists through hands-on artistic activities.

REVIEW: KERRY PHILLIPS EXHIBITION AT THE BASS

Written By Douglas Markowitz,

Using the detritus of modern life for materials, Phillips' exhibition, "Between The Miraculous and the Mundane" may seek to bring order to a chaotic world.

NEW CULTURAL CENTER MANAGER ANNOUNCES INNOVATIONS

Written By Jonel Juste,

New Cultural Manager Qunyatta Warren promises programming and events to blend tradition and innovation that reflect the unique spirit of Little Haiti.