Roman Edirisinghe

I’ve finally posted some videos that I took at a flamenco bar called La Carbonería, in Sevilla, over six months ago. This event took place after all the official performances had finished: a guy walked into the bar carrying a guitar; I’m guessing he was a gypsy, even though he lacked the stereotypical long hair. The musicians left over from earlier performances all joined him in a smaller alcove, and the resulting late-night session is what I managed to catch on my camera. What is undocumented is that after many of the other musicians left, he (the dark complexioned guy on the right with the brown jacket and short hair) looked at me and insistently demanded me to sing a song. I replied that I didn’t know flamenco, that I was a foreigner, but he didn’t buy it. Eventually I relented, asked him for his guitar and proceeded to sing and play a song. It wasn’t flamenco by any stretch (it was an East Indian tune called Ghoom Charakhana), but my delivery made him eat his foot. I wasn’t sure what he was after in challenging an amateur (at flamenco) to perform, but I hope he learned the error of his ways. In the end I didn’t return to the establishment for some time, hoping to avoid a similar scenario. Subsequent to this event was when I started my official flamenco lessons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sq9nvCc4Wg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxm5t1ZQUdc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijtTVGEzAME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGyCvdn-zeQ

Here is another video of a friend from Sevilla dancing flamenco.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA-Ww3G_aIw

Date: March 12, 2008
Location: Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo
Dance: Melinda Hedgecorth
Vocals: Javier Rivera/ David “El Gamba”
Guitar: Jordi Flores

Carlos (Chile) and Oriol (Barcelona, Spain) playing cajón on the streets of Sevilla.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0SAXjl7BHU

Bernardo of Anarko Flamenco dancing bulerias, while Oriol and Carlos accompany him on the cajón.The crowded streets are a result of Semana Santa (the week preceding Easter).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeHKRaSJGsI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0cBbdFQPdg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhuY0zBJ8yk

I met some really cool musicians here in Sevilla, and here they are improvising an impromptu Flamenco song while we were sitting around at a café. Pictured from left to right are Marina, Tyson, Oriol, and Carlos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4oTWag42_4

Last night, I was fortunate to buy the last available ticket for a Tomatito show. When the show started, he came out alone, and brought me to the point of tears with his musical finesse. After the first song, his musical companions joined him – 2 singers, another guitarist, a percussionist, and a dancer. These guys really knew how to put on a fantastic presentation, and they managed to do it without uttering one word (save lyrics) to the audience. It was certainly awesome to see one of my (many) guitar heroes performing live.

Here is a video clip of the encore, which was interrupted by an usher telling me I couldn’t film. Oops.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s9sKMyX7ZJ8

For me, the most pronounced thing about Sevilla is not its numerous attractions, sights, tapas bars, and multicultural diversity. It is something far more subtle, and takes some time before it actually sinks in. Sevilla simply smells delicious. Currently, it is Spring here, which means the sour orange trees lining the streets are blooming.

Due to a delayed flight, day one of my trip found me stranded at the Newark airport, with no alternative but to find a hotel.

Ahh, sleep is priceless after days of erratic rest.

This morning, I woke to the deep bass of a giant heartbeat. I thought I was in a giant womb. The heartbeats gradually morphed into a beat, and then I heard an announcer say “How are we doing tonight? Are we going to have a party?!” Mind you, this was morning, not night, or so I thought. I rushed to the window and saw an Indian wedding party taking place in the cold parking lot.  Enjoy the videos of this surreal spectacle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmPKn6wNUp8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oatPUI-BPBA

Here’s a video of me enjoying some interesting Japanese cuisine.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kB9Z0A7z6fU

As it turns out, I’m born to be wild, as is evidenced by the hilarious video below. This somewhat embarrassing extravagance took place at a hotel resort in Ise, Japan, and my witnesses were my traveling companions, and a bunch of inebriated Japanese locals celebrating a wedding. The Japanese gent joining me towards the end was not arranged in advance. I think he really liked my leg.

By the way, I wasn’t drunk. I don’t drink alcohol.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hb3HecpJfCE