Quebecers first knew him as one of the artisans of the musical Don Juanbut it is as a solo artist that Chico Castillo will visit Montreal and Gatineau on May 15 and 16.
“Solo” might not be the right word to use. Following the gipsy tradition, Jose Agustin Luis Castillo, more simply Chico, will be surrounded by a dozen singers and musicians first at the Théâtre Maisonneuve, then at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy.
“We’re going to bring joy, we’re going to party together,” says the French artist of Spanish origin, reached by telephone in Madrid by The newspaper. The world is not going well and what we want is to bring joy and offer two hours of concert [qui mènent les gens] elsewhere.”
Forever linked to Quebec
The great friendship of Chico Castillo with Félix Gray, musician behind the Quebec success Don Juan, took him to La Belle Province in 2003. Mandated to infuse his Spanish touch into the production which starred Jean-François Breau, Marie-Eve Janvier and Mario Pelchat, he also played the role of the Gypsy. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world have witnessed this immense commercial success over time.
A few years later, he collaborated once again with Mario Pelchat, this time on the album And if you did not exist, where he pays homage to the catalog of Joe Dassin. On May 28, 2012, he unveiled it at the Rialto Theater.
It should therefore not be surprising to see Chico Castillo return to Quebec to present pieces from his next album, Juntoswhich will see the light of day on June 15.
“I believe that Quebecers love this style of gypsy, flamenco music. It brings them joy, the hoarse voices, the rhythm, the sound of the guitars. I believe that Quebecers have gipsy and Spanish blood,” continues the 56-year-old man with a sneer.
Without wanting to reveal more, the main party promises the surprise appearance of artists from Quebec and elsewhere during his two concerts.
Do not mix the Chico
One thing is certain, even if his collaboration with the group Gipsy Kings by André Reyes allowed him to collaborate with “those who introduced him to this kind of music”, Chico Castillo wants to put this chapter of his career behind him and he is concentrating on his solo career for several years.
A long conflict with the co-founder of the original formation of Gipsy Kings, Chico Bouchikhi, who accused him of being an imposter, made headlines in France in 2013. “The problem is that everyone confuses them », Explained Castillo’s producer to World at the time.
To avoid any confusion, it was indeed Chico who participated in Don Juan and who sold millions of copies of the song Alabinainnovative by juxtaposing Arabic and flamenco musical traditions, which will set foot on Quebec soil in mid-May.
“I come with gipsies from the south of France and Latin musicians. It’s going to be really great.”
The Gipsy by Chico Castillo, at the Théâtre Maisonneuve (May 15) and at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy (May 16).
