It was at the Chevaliers du Fiel, at the Comédie de Toulouse, that Kiko Ruiz met his friends and admirers on Thursday May 21. He will perform there, in quintet formation, his very beautiful album “Ama la Vida”.
Ask the Toulouse guitarist and composer Kiko Ruiz to tell you about himself, about his songs, and he will answer you by starting by quoting the musician friends who surround him: “We have a new bassist with us: Nicolas Thévenin; there is Jean-Denis Rivaleau on percussion, Rafael Pradal on guitar and Sabrina Mauchet on violin. “Ama La Vida” is a show placed under the sign of the colors of Spain A piece like “Este Momento” speaks of the importance of living in the present moment, “Getitas” evokes these small drops which are insignificant but which, brought together… We will mainly play the titles of this album… with also pieces like “La Ballade d’Eloïse”, which I am often asked for.”
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From flamenco to jazz
“Ama La Vida” – “Aime la vie” in French – is a creation open to the world, thought of as “a celebration of life, cultural mixing and a universal love that goes beyond borders”. While remaining faithful to the soul of flamenco which made it famous, Kiko does not hesitate to move away from it a little, with freedom and confidence in his art, to invent a rich and (very) moving musical universe. “I wanted to sing a few themes myself to include them in this project which ranges from flamenco to jazz, to world music, by inviting instruments and sounds unusual in flamenco, such as bass and violin,” he explains.
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The show he will present at the Comédie de Toulouse will combine these tracks in a constant search for balance and sharing. “It’s always special to play in Toulouse,” confides the child from the Pink City. The public knows me, there are friends, family… I’ve been performing on stage for 50 years, and it’s here that it all began. It will be a great way to close the loop…
In the intimate atmosphere of the Toulouse venue, this quintet concert promises a warm and vibrant evening, in the image of this outstanding artist. We love it, when music brings traditions and contemporary sensitivities into dialogue and thus invites us to “love life”, quite simply – with a beautiful Andalusian accent, a few jazz twists and lots and lots of generosity.
