“After tonight flamenco will make us think of Eric Harper,” said Ken Rolheiser of the Canora Arts Council in his introduction of the flamenco guitarist at the Canora Composite School auditorium February 6.
Onstage, Harper had only himself and his guitar: no flashy costumes, no back-up musicians, no colour-changing lights or pyrotechnics. His guitar, his hands which moved with complete assurance and speed, his “hauntingly emotional” vocals that seamlessly ranged across the vocal spectrum, and his affably delivered “life story” were interwoven throughout the performance.
“I was two months away from being born exotic, but instead I was born a “red neck,” Harper said as he began his narrative dialogue, for he included his audience in his performance and elicited feedback.
He went on to express how he was “ripped off” by circumstances which necessitated his mother make an emergency exit from Argentina back to the United Sates, namely Arkansas. So began a colourful tale of how Harper eventually ended up “falling in love at first listen” with the Spanish-influenced genre of music known as flamenco that he describes as “the perfect marriage of drumming and complex rhythms.”
Harper thanked the audience for being there to support his music, and alluded to the fact that he is lucky to be doing in this life something that he really loves.
Judging from the audience appreciation of his performance, they felt the same way: Eric Harper received a standing ovation.
The next performance in the Stars for Saskatchewan concert series, presented by the Canora Arts Council at the Canora Composite School auditorium will be held on February 23.
