10 - Garazi - 2´33
(Music: Alan Griffin)
(Arranged
and produced by Joxan Goikoetxea
& Alan Griffin)
Recording engineer: Joxan Goikoetxea
Recorded at Aztarna Studio (Hernani, Gipuzkoa) throughout 2017.
Mixing
and Digital Mastering:
Mikel F.Krutzaga – Musikart Studio (Amezketa - Gipuzkoa).
Alan Griffin:
low whistle, alboka
Joxan Goikoetxea: accordion,
zither
Juanjo Otxandorena:
bouzouki
Peter Maund: riqq,
târ
A new fandango composed for the alboka. It's Nº 25 in Halfway to Hell: Albokarako 333 doinu.
Several years ago my friend and alboka-maker Osses presented me with a newly-designed alboka with synthetic reeds. I promised to celebrate him in the first new tune that came out of it. But I didn't: I called it after his baby daughter Garazi. I also dedicate this fandango to my niece Garazi Hach-Embarek.
My idea (on the demo!) was for a grunt-and-rumble type of tune, but
I should have guessed this would clash with Joxan's fastidious taste.
He knew it wouldn't be easy to turn any of my alboka fandangos into
a thing of finesse, but he tried hard.
In fact, the arrangement became so refined that we thought we'd have
to take the albokas out altogether. In the end we didn't. So the grumble
and runt are still in there, somewhat occluded by accordion, bouzouki
and percussion
This fandango reminds me of the music of Bi beso lur (1998).
It also coincided with a fandango I was recording as a duet with the trikitilari (accordionist) Xabi Solano on his album Ereñotzu. In 'Garazi' we recorded the melody first, so I was able to try out alternative lines, textures and interesting bass-runs on the accordion. They ended up being somewhat muted amongst the other instruments, especially that dogmatic alboka.....
And what of Juanjo’s intro on the bouzouki? It’s a sound that brings me back to the 70’s and bands like Haizea, Errobi and Itoiz. Well, at least for a few seconds...
It’s
the signature of the fifth member of Alboka, our sound engineer Mikel
F. Krutzaga, who for many years now has had total freedom to
do, undo, use, ornament, tamper, manipulate, decorate, patch, mix and
master our albums.
a 
I
first met Mikel in 1991, I think. Both of us a lot younger than we are
now, though he’s still a bit younger than me. He did the sound
for my quartet with Angel Unzu in Bilbao. I’ve fondly kept the
DAT recording of that day and it sounds very good!
Since then Mikel’s career has been on an upward curve and I’ve
had the pleasure of working with him on very many projects. Apart from
our first CD in 1994, he’s recorded and mixed all Alboka albums.
Indeed, our sound is due in great measure to his careful craft.
Eskerrik asko, Mikel, let the music play on.
