World Music – GALICIA/FRANCE
Watch a live performance by Antonio Placer and your heart will remember the experience forever.
A singer, musician, poet, composer, arranger, and a Galician exile living in France, he creates true world music; his songs have been born out of a variety of winds blowing him around all along. Now, what musical style is his, and what makes his music unique? He can hardly be pigeonholed… None of the ready-made categories apply: this is not flamenco or Celtic music, fado, tango, or classical music, bel canto, Arabic-Andalusian music, contemporary ethnic or Brazilian, samba, jazz, salsa, chamamé, reggae, techno, hip-hop, trip-hop, Zulu rock-music, raï or any other style you may think of.
Antonio Placer, a self-taught musician, is a creative artist with incredibly vast experience. His strong, warm voice exudes passion as he takes us into his own world through a combination of music and poetry woven together. He dislikes labelling and being labelled: “Every one of us is one of a kind, so every single artist’s expression is unique, irreplaceable and helps the world go round.” In that respect, his is a grassroots approach. He never panders to trends or critics’ likes, nor he does he indulge in fashionable musical styles; his vitality, spontaneity, and sincerity are surprising and quite convincing.
Antonio Placer at the Européen – París (©Julie Colson)
Since 1993, Antonio Placer has concentrated on his own creations: CANCIONISTA (2006-2007), BERGONDO (2007), SIRIA (2005), PAN DE HARAPO (2004), DOMPTELIO (State commission 2003), DEDILA (2002), NOMADES D’ICI (State commission 2000), ALMACORDES (1998), UN POCO CIELO UN POCO TIERRA (1997), LA DANZA DE LOS AZARES (1995), MADRE LATINA (1993). In France, they have been performed thanks to official endorsements and funding and jointly produced by various partners –the Théâtre de Grenoble, the Grand Angle in Voiron, European Jazz Expo festival in Cagliari, La Rampe in Échirolles, the 38e Rugissants festival –and other venues nationwide– the Théâtre de Cornouaille in Quimper, Espace Malraux in Chambéry, Maison de la Culture in Grenoble, Angers’ New Theatre, etc. Abroad, tours have also been staged throughout Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
Since 1993, his partner musicians and tourmates – rather than mere sidemen – have included: Jean-Marie Machado, pianist, Steve Swallow, bass, Elena Ledda, Simonetta Soro, Sardinian singers, Rosa Cedrón, Galician singer, Negrito Trasante from Uruguay, on drums and percussions, Stracho Temelkovski on guitar, bass and percussions, Paulo Bellinati and Cristina Azuma, from Brazil, on guitar, Jean-François Baëz and David Venitucci, accordionists, Toninho Ferragutti –Hermeto Pascoal’s Brazilian accordionist– and Maria João, Renaud Garcia Fons, on the double bass, Mauro Palmas, on the mandolin, Carlo Rizzo, on the tambourine, Michel Mandel, clarinet, the late Pascal Lloret on the piano, Fernando Suárez Paz, Astor Piazzolla’s sideman on the violin, etc.
This is because Antonio Placer’s great talent enables him to attract the very best musicians, who acknowledge him as their peer and readily serve his music by associating with his project. His primary art is indeed the stage, which he fills with his generous, committed presence.
His disc recordings are produced by ALMA MUSIQUES and S’ARD. The record company he is under contract with is LE CHANT DU MONDE. His albums are distributed by HARMONIA MUNDI, by EGEA MUSIC and by RESISTENCIA.
His poetry is published by Galician publishing house Espiral Maior, under the literary direction of Miguel Anxo Fernán-Vello.
Among the topics of interest to him and the various themes or resources he uses, old favourites are Love, Solidarity, Rebelliousness, the call for an emancipated brand of citizenship characterised by awareness and a critical sense. He feels the divine just springs out of nature and life. As a man, he comes across as a genuine, crystal-clear person endowed with uncommon sensibility and committed to radical exploration of the inner self. His dedication is such that even as he speaks he sounds musical. Antonio Placer may be described as a folk singer, not because he follows some established tradition, but because his approach to creation and the nature of his music are universal, cutting across geographic borders and styles; obviously the man knows no bounds…
“Out of God’s and the Devil’s flour, I shape the dough for my songs.”
Antonio Placer is under a three-year cultural agreement with Ville de Grenoble and Isère Council.
His creations have been sponsored by the Rhône-Alpes regional Council, Xunta de Galicia, SPEDIDAM, ADAMI, CNV and SACEM.
They have been performed thanks to official endorsements and funding and jointly produced by various partners –the Théâtre de Grenoble, the Grand Angle in Voiron, Cervantès Institute of Madrid, Caixa Galicia, European Jazz Expo festival in Cagliari, La Rampe in Échirolles –and other venues nationwide– the Théâtre de Cornouaille in Quimper, Espace Malraux in Chambéry, Maison de la Culture in Grenoble, Angers’ New Theatre, etc.