PAST
|
|
Sabir (2-003-2.010) Atypical instrumental trio with a high dose of improvisation from Diego López on percussion, Efrén on his arsenal of stringed instruments and the Alien-Flamenco guitar of Spyros Kaniaris from Greece, currently residing in Valencia. |
|
|
|
Ex Silentio (2.009) Greek-Austrian group directed by recorder player Dimitris Kountouras, dedicated to performing Early Music, from the Middle Ages to Baroque period. Efrén played with the group in their programme “L’autunno del Medievo” which focuses on music in the transition between the Medieval and Renaissance periods (Binchois, Machaut, Duffay...). |
|
|
|
Jaume I, amic i amat (2.008-2.009) Theatre piece directed by Juanjo Prats with music by Efrén and Dani Espasa. “Jaume I, amic i amat” talks of the Catalan Conqueror King from the point of view of the women who shared his life. Medieval music and poetry of the troubadours accompany the play. |
|
|
|
Amán (2.009) Efrén joined this dance project in august of 2009 with a collction of Turkish, Persian and Maroccan pieces coexisting with Classical Western Music performed by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Valencia and the voices of the Orfeó Valencià Navarro Reverter. Patrick de Bana was the coreograph, played by the Ballet de Teatres de la Generalitat. |
|
|
|
Tzane Trio (2.008-2.009) A trio of female voices; one French, one Turkish and one Greek, all residing in Paris. Efrén joined the Balkan polyphony created by these singers with a varied repertory dedicated to Medieval, Ottoman, Byzantine and Balkan music. |
|
|
|
Capella de Ministrers (2.000-2.009) Prestigious Early Music group which Efrén joined recording 10 albums of Medieval and Renaissance music, performing all over Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. |
|
|
|
Maria Thoidou kai oi Hamenoi Erastes (2.007-2.009) Greek singer and composer whom Efrén accompanies during his stays in Thessaloniki, together with other good friends. |
|
|
|
Roda el Món (2.008) Catalan singer Lídia Pujol coordinated this project of music and dance based on Montserrat’s Llibre Vermell. The show premièred in the Barcelona church of Santa Maria del Mar and was the inaugural event of the Ribermúsica festival. Apart form Efrén, participants included the Orquestra Àrab de Barcelona, Dani Espasa, Miriam Encinas, Maria Elena Medina and Xavi Lozano. |
|
|
|
Pedram Khavar Zamini/Siamak Aghaei/Efrén López (2.008) This trio is a collaboration with two Iranian virtuoso performers on the tombak and santoor which began in Summer 2008 on Crete when the three of them performed together in Ross Daly’s new project, the Labyrinth Modal Ensemble. |
|
|
|
Mousiko Horio/Music Village (2.007-2.008) Summer conferences on different types of music are held in the small town of Aghios Lavrentios on Mount Pilios, Central Greece. Efrén gave seminars on Medieval music to students from all over Europe the last two years. |
|
|
|
Documentary with Mapasonor (2.008) Accompanied by Maria Salicrú and Sàgar Malé, Efrén was the protagonist in a documentary from the "Oïdes Mediterrànies" series, from the production company Mapasonor. Travelling on a musical quest through Turkey and Greece, he visited old friends, teachers and colleagues along the way. |
|
|
|
Maria Laffitte & Joi de Trobar (2.003-2.008) This was the chance to share the stage with Maria Lafitte, the most enchanting voice in the world of Medieval music and, with Els Trobadors, a long-standing influence for Efrén. The third element was Miriam Encinas, Maria’s daughter who is an excellent recorder player and percussionist, and the three were usually joined by the fellows from the prestigious German group Oni Wytars. Since Maria’s death in early 2008, work has been started on recovering her complete works. |
|
|
|
Evdousin (2.006-2.008) Group directed by Black Sea lyra player, Pantelis Pavlidis, dedicated to creating compositions using classic Greek texts and modes, together with ancient and traditional instruments. |
|
|
|
Stelios Petrakis (2.008) Efrén collaborated on “Orion”, the third album from this close friend, composer, virtuoso performer and builder of Cretan instruments. The two are currently working together in Ross Daly’s group (see Present). |
|
|
|
Aman Aman (2.003-2.007) With one album and a fistful of concerts in Spain, Portugal and Germany, this band, which ran parallel to L’Ham de Foc provided a vision of Sephardic music from a clear and conscious standpoint, far removed from absurdly academic, out of context, westernized interpretations that seem to invade Hispanic-Jewish music. Musicians from Valencia, Greece, Morocco and France took part, though the group was dissolved at the same time as L’Ham de Foc, in 2007. |
|
|
|
L'Ham de Foc (1.998-2007) Together with the near of 50 musicians which joined the band, Efrén created a very personal, sound which made no concession with a complex and conclusive acoustic sound. They recorded three CDs and toured throughout Europe up until the group separated in 2007. |
|
|
|
Chambao (2.007) Studio collaboration with this popular group who, with this album, took a turn in a new direction, mixing traditional sounds into their already well-known fusion of electronics and flamenco sounds. |
|
|
|
Dravides (2.007) During one of his stays in Greece, Efrén joined this group which is dedicated to Cretan music under the direction of composer, performer and old friend Antonis Frangadakis. |
|
|
|
Al Andalus Project (2.006-2.007) Collaboration between L’Ham de Foc and the German group Estampie which ended up rather badly and gave fruit only to a few concerts and a somewhat mediocre album - neither here nor there.
|
|
|
|
Linatakalam (2.006) Emilio Garrido (who hosted La bañera de Ulises, a radio programme on Spanish National Radio 3) was the musical consultant for this series of documentaries focussing on Mediterranean cultures, shown on Channel 2 of the Spanish National Television. The music he selected was from L’Ham de Foc. |
|
|
|
The angels of the Valencia's Cathedral (2.006) A fascinating project from Capella de Ministrers, reconstructing a dozen or so Medieval instruments which were illustrated in frescos, found by chance in Valencia’s cathedral in 2005. Efrén took part in both the reconstruction process and the posterior recording of a CD, first as a consultant and later playing the lute. |
|
|
|
L'Ham de Foc + Ross Daly (2.005-2.006) L’Ham de Foc and maestro Ross Daly joined forces for a few unforgettable performances which funnily enough, received no media attention at all, thanks to the well-documented ignorance of most of the Catalan-speaking press with regards to any musical groups that are not under the wing of a “regimen approved” manager. |
|
|
|
Alfàndech (2.005) An association created to organize meetings, workshops and courses focussing on traditional stringed instruments. We are very proud to mention that the association received no public grants or financial aid. |
|
|
|
Luigi Cinque (2.005) Efrén joined this project with Sicilian Luigi Cinque, Sardinian Elena Ledda, the Os Ganhoes choir from the Portuguese Alentejo and other musicians. Their collaboration consisted in several concerts in Andalusia, the south of Portugal and Tuscany, together with the recording of a DVD “Alentejo History”. |
|
|
|
Aljub (2.005) This project is the brainchild of Joansa Maravilla, a friend and ex-member of L’Ham de Foc. Efrén helped out with some concerts in Catalonia and Valencia. |
|
|
|
Tirant i Carmesina (2.004) Efrén composed the music for this show by the street theatre group Visitants. Recordings were made on horseback between Valencia, Salonica and Athens with musicians from both Greece and Valencia. |
|
|
|
Rondalla of Mislata (2.004) Along the lines of the previous group, Efrén played bandurria (Spanish 12-string mandolin) for several months with this folkloric group. |
|
|
|
Cant d'Estil (2.002-2.005) Parallel to La Beniterrània, Efrén had the privilege of experiencing the traditions of l’Horta de Valencia first hand, playing guitar and guitarron with Apa and Teresa and thereby learning the estils (musical forms) and modes of the traditional Cant d’estil over a three year period. |
|
|
|
Miquel Gil (1.997-2.002) Valencian singer and songwriter with whom Efrén worked closely with as a musician, producer and arranger throughout his two main phases; first as a singer of Rumbas in Spanish, and later as a Catalan Folk singer. The collaboration lasted right up to edition of the first album in Catalan: “Orgànic”. |
|
|
|
Medieval markets (1.998-2.001) For a number of years, Efrén performed at medieval fairs throughout Valencia, playing his hurdy-gurdy along with other musicians from the field of traditional music such as Eduard Navarro, Joansa Maravilla, Didac Palau, Rafa Gisbert “Cato” and many others. Efrén was obliged to retire from the scene upon finding himself heartily sick of spending entire days in tights, which were not only ridiculous to look at but also happened to produce intense testicular discomfort. |
|
|
|
La Beniterrània (2.002) Currently active group dedicated to the repertory of traditional Valencian song with the powerful voices of Apa and Teresa. Efrén’s participation was brief, finishing just before the group recorded their first album…a pity. |
|
|
|
Cançons de la Cançó (2.001) Project dedicated to Valencian folk songs with Paco Muñoz and Lluis Miquel. Arrangements by Enric Murillo. Efrén worked under his direction filling commissions for advertising, audiovisuals, documentaries, cinema and other productions. |
|
|
|
Street musician (2.001-2.008) Among other places, the streets of Thessaloniki and Girona were witness to this difficult, yet entertaining period. |
|
|
|
Mana Teji (2.000) Indian singer who touched down in Valencia for a few months, and whom Efrén accompanied in a number of concerts in the area. Short and sweet. |
|
|
|
Malaventura (2.000) Efrén composed the music for this short, an initiative of animation realized by the director Felipe G. Rodero from the spectacle "Malasort" created by the Teatre Buffo company. In this film he relies on cinematographic language, the work of the puppet maker Empar Claramunt. "Malaventura" inspired by an Italo Calvino's story, gained different awards in San Sebastian, Quart de Poblet and special mentions in Vitoria and Valladolid. |
|
|
|
El cau del Llop (2.000) Efrén contributed a few artistic touches to the first album from this Valencian folk group, and a few years later accompanied them in performances throughout Valencia and Catalonia. |
|
|
|
La Corda Fluixa (2.000) Fleeting but enjoyable project dedicated to stringed instruments, with Josep Maravilla (later to be sound technician for L’Ham de Foc), Bernat Pellicer (future Urbàlia Rurana drummer) and Néstor Mont. |
|
|
|
Cendraires (1.998-1.999) Efrén joined this band from Algemesi (Valencia), during the recording of their only album and played at their live performances until the group disbanded. |
|
|
|
Los Girasoules (1.994) Valencian commercial pop group in which Efrén participated as a hired musician for their tour of Puerto Rico. Although the group was not very well known in Spain, they were highly successful in this Caribbean country and consequently treated as full-on rock stars. Despite the positive aspects of the experience, Efrén’s very first words upon his return from the tour were “-Once and once only!”. |
|
|
|
Margaritas y Cerdos (1.993-1.998) The first band formed by Efrén together with singer Cándida Sanchis and guitarist Pasqual Brisa was this very rock group. Influenced by the 70s and with its own very peculiar sound, thanks to the use of Efrén’s growing collection of traditional instruments, it would mark Efrén’s career in the following years. Diego López, future L’Ham de Foc percussionist, played drums. |
|
|
|
Dislate Acre (1.992-1.995) Surrealist musical experience born from the strange and twisted mind of the great Nacho Rosat. Although it did not enjoy great commercial success, this was a period of great creativity and experimentation, mixing music, poetry, the absurd and art. Singer Cándida Sanchis, with whom Efrén would go on to form Margaritas y Cerdos was also a participant in this project. |
