A Mexican-Scottish Fusion!
Paxton House 23/07/24
Music at Paxton: Lavinia Negrete singer/guitar, Morgan Szymanski guitar, Roo Geddes fiddle
In association with Live Music Now Scotland, Prisma, Mexico, and with support from the British Mexican Society
‘A nano-second’ was all it took for Angus Smith, Artistic Director of Music at Paxton to agree to host this concert. A large audience of all ages on this sunny afternoon delight in an hour of superb musical entertainment from three exciting musicians from Mexico and Scotland. Suave classical guitar, exquisite singing, breath-taking improvised jazz – all add up to a programme of tremendous enjoyment for the audience and the participants.
Of course, this level of musical fun wouldn’t exist without many years of work from these outstanding musicians, and the organisational backing from Live Music Now Scotland and Prisma, Mexico. Carol Main from Live Music Now Scotland has kept in touch with Mexican guitarist, Morgan Szymanski, since aged 17 he successfully auditioned for a place with the organisation. After studying and working for Live Music Now in London, he founded Prisma on his return to Mexico as a similar body to provide music for those with limited access to it, and work opportunities for young musicians. Last autumn, Roo Geddes from LMNS was invited to Mexico to work with Morgan and Lavinia Negrete on Prisma projects in rural areas. Lavinia is an experienced choir director of children’s choirs in two remote locations. Now LMNS have invited the trio to play concerts in Scotland this summer as well as providing sessions in care-homes and schools.
The wide-ranging programme includes music from many parts of Latin America, with quieter moments of reflective solo guitar playing from Morgan, and instrumental duets between him and Roo. These alternate with trios in which Lavinia’s rich flexible voice sounds clearly over the instruments: whether she’s singing pianissimo or hitting emotional heights, her performance compels attention. Morgan’s and Lavinia’s guitars add to this splendid sound, while Roo contributes Grappelli-like jazz improvisations. Already an experienced solo classical violinist and traditional fiddle player, he’s currently studying for a post-graduate degree in jazz and participating in jazz ensembles.
Included in the selection is a moving modern composition by a Chilean who has lived in Edinburgh since fleeing Pinochet’s regime. Morgan translates his lyrics about the power of music and community, saying how they reflect the work that Prisma and LMNS seek to do. As the musical journey reaches Brazil with a catchy bossa nova, Roo comments that it had set 80-year-olds to get up and dance yesterday morning. Argentinian Astor Piazzolla provides the fine tango which brings the concert to a close.
After lengthy loud applause Morgan announces an encore, “not the Mexican anthem as it’s boring,” but the unofficial anthem ‘Cielito Lindo’ so we can join in the chorus of ‘ay, ay, ay, ay’ – or as Roo says, the Scots version ‘Aye, aye, aye, aye.’ Everybody knows the tune, and, without any cajoling, we end with loud and cheerful community singing! Can this be Scotland?
