While Flamenco is resting comfortably on its newly-awarded World-heritage laurels, Miguel Iven simply
puts on six brand-new strings, rolls up his sleeves and works away as effortlessly and unexcitedly as
ever. That´s the way we know him on stage: as an utterly endearing and interesting dialogue-partner,
as a friend. A clear response, a powerful tone and all but sparingly used melody-lines have always been
a trademark of his compositions. This warm-hearted
anchorman and flamenco guitarist will have to get
used to the idea of being acknowledged as the German
founding father and doyen of Flamenco. During the
1990s he became the German voice of Flamenco at
the NDR-radio. Even back in the 1980s he was already
living together with Gitanos in the caves of Sacromonte
near Granada, where he refined his guitar play until the
legendary dancer and choreographer Manolo Marín
engaged him as a regular guitarist in Sevilla. Five CDs
speak a clear Iven-Flamenco-language, featuring zappy
runs, crisp rasgueados and gruff Alzapuas. He has a
long-existing, loyal fan-community in Andalusia, the
cradle of Flamenco.
What he presents now is not a guitaristic solo-run,
but a multi-coloured cross-country journey with guest
musicians and foreign influences through the stylistic
variety of the Flamenco world. Percusión y Palmas, Violin
y Altosax, Castañuelas y Cante and Viola y Cello are
an enrichment for this recently released sound-carrier
– Flamenco entre amigos. The guitar still remains the
hub and physical centre of Miguel´s wonderful compositions,
and followers of the pure teachings of por Soleá
will find what their hearts desire, too. The guest musicians – here first and foremost Conny Sommer with
his keen sense for delicate and pushing rhythms – blend in so harmoniously with Miguels pieces as if they
had never done anything different. Miguel Iven´s great strength and merit is simplicity in the complex, his
goal being music and not par force note-hunting. That is why this rich production manages the balancing
act between Flamenco traditions and modern influences not only successfully, but par excellence.
Ralf Bieniek
Chief Editor
ANDA – Flamenco Magazine