Cartagena (Spain) (EFE) people who have filled Torres Park, in Cartagena, on the return of the Panamanian musician to the “La Mar de Músicas” festival, where he performed in 2018.
Thus, the song set in New York and inspired by an English criminal from the 18th century that was made into a film in 1985, with a starring role by Mexican actor Andrés García, is part of the album “Siembra”, which also includes the single “Ojos ”, whose protest closure has made the Cartagena forum vibrate: “They are the eyes of my peoples.
Seeing how to move forward. Those student eyes, heaven bless them. And the future of our race and of Latin America.”
Before the concert, the Cádiz-born journalist and writer Lara López presented him with the “La Mar de Músicas” 28th edition award for “having affirmed the social meaning of popular dance music that led from the marginal to the political, becoming the great chronicler of the social reality of a Latin America that was reflected in a round and consistent work, with albums like ‘Siembra’ or ‘Buscando América’”, he underlined in his speech.
Blades, dressed in a black hat accompanied by a navy blue suit and tie, has responded that any acknowledgment that is given to him, is given to the orchestra, made up this hot summer night by 20 musicians from the Roberto Delgado Salsa Big Band, “and Panama”, has asserted the one who was also Minister of Tourism of this country during the mandate (2004-2009) of President Martín Torrijos.
Likewise, Blades has delighted the Cartagena forum with other emblematic songs from his extensive professional career such as “Todos vuelven”, “Amor y control” or “Las calles”, which 40 years ago elevated him to the highest of the Latin American musical Olympus together with the single “El cazanguero” (1975), which he has not sung on this occasion.
The one that has had the opportunity to dance and recite the public of Cartagena has been the song “Pablo Puebla”, which Blades composed at the age of 17 when he was in high school, and which he published 12 years later, in 1977, preserving the spirit young and transgressive of that first salsa: “The usual neighborhood awaits him. With the streetlight on the corner. With the garbage out there. And the noise of the canteen”.
During his performance, he has had words of affection for various references of Hispano-Latin music such as the Puerto Rican Hector Lavoe, Rocío Jurado or the director of the Mar de Músicas who died in 2018, Paco Martín, who gives his name to the stage that has given him shelter, where he has also raised a flag that read “SOS Mar Menor”.
The salsa poet, winner of more than 15 Grammy awards and the first Latino to receive the Art Medal from Harvard University (2020), has closed his concert with “Maestra vida”, an ideal work to argue his award-winning passage through the port city, since it reflects his ability to describe the Latin American reality, from experience and a critical gaze: “I saw thorns and roses. I saw loved ones die. I saw beauties and witnessed evil and wars.”
Likewise, Canada has once again starred this Tuesday in the 9:30 p.m. shift, at the Seafaring Instruction Barracks (CIM), in the historic center of the port city, where the folk rock singer and guitarist Martha Wainwright has cajoled with her harmonic drinks charged with sensitivity to the 300 people who have come to see it.
Songs like “Far away”, “Tower of song” or “Can you believe it” have mesmerized the staff, who moved gently to the rhythm set by the Canadian on their seats, and woke up from their lethargy every time ended a song with a loud applause.