Manuel Iman, of Spain, transplanted to Malibu seven years ago to compose music for documentaries, record a solo album and give his family the opportunity to live in the States.
By Rosie Lee/Special to The Malibu Times
In the intimate setting of the Malibu Stage Co. Theater in mid-February, world-class guitarist and composer Manuel Iman from Spain hosted his first concert series in the town that has been his home for the past seven years.
Alone on a simple but elegant stage, compliments of local resident set designer Alan Jones, a standing room only crowd enjoyed a delightful array of music that defied classification. Primarily an instrumental performance enhanced by back track compositions, Manuel treated the audience to an entertaining journey from Spain to Cuba, Brazil to Morocco, and India to the Mississippi Delta.
A musical adventurer, Manuel grew up in the charming, multiethnic city of Seville listening to a myriad of cross-cultural currents on the radio. At his home on Tapia Ridge, he spoke about his music.
Laughing, he described it as, “Roots fusion. I’m not a fusion artist on purpose, but by natural instinct.” An instinct fueled by the kinship he feels with the many musical roots he’s drawn to, finding at the source a fundamental, mutual inspiration.
Since he first picked up a guitar at age 16, Iman has been composing. Four years later, with his debut band, Goma, he recorded one of the first fusion albums ever made. Enjoying growing popularity for his musical pioneering and improvisational live performances with his newly formed band, Iman, at age 22 found CBS records knocking at his door to sign him to record another album.
“Califato Independiente,” combining flamenco, rock and Eastern roots, enjoyed good reviews and secured his place in Spanish rock history as one of the great innovators of the ’70s.
In 1981 the Iman band members went their separate ways and Manuel moved to Madrid, where he soon became a sought-after talent in the recording industry. A few years later, he formed the pop band, La Decada Prodigiosa, assembling musicians and dancers to perform popular songs from the ’60s and ’70s. For the next five years, they entertained audiences including the King of Spain, and performed benefits for the International Red Cross. It was the highlight of Iman’s commercial success, playing into the wide-open mouth of mainstream pop culture. But he missed the artistic challenge and gratification generated by developing original music, so he left behind the hot lights and big bucks to delve back into his creative muse.
Throughout the ’90s, Iman continued to pioneer professionally, and eventually moved his family to Malibu in 1995.
“Most people think starting over is a big deal, and it is. I’ve done it several times,” he said. “I wanted to come to Malibu to compose music for documentaries, record a solo album and to give my family the opportunity to live in the States.”
Soon after he arrived he was recruited back to Spain as musical director and composer for the renowned show, “El Circo del Arte” and toured with them for 11 months. Returning to Malibu, he recorded an instrumental fusion album, “Flowers in the Desert,” released on local New Age label EverSound.
After several years of limited performances in this area, Iman had all but disappeared into his studio until the recent spontaneous Malibu concerts.
A master of improvisation, the mood was refined but casual as he moved through a repertoire that ranged in groove from the upbeat to the stilling to a romantic bolero-esque love song. A gracious host, Iman told stories, offering educational bits about the different songs and styles, while sharing the feeling behind some of his music, such as in the lighthearted instrumental “Care.” He describes, “When you love somebody unconditionally … this song was written from that feeling.”
In one fearless fusion he played “The Jewel,” blending blues and Indian bhajan rhythms from his latest energetic East/West vocal album “Legacy,” explaining the song is about finding an inner gift.
In a typically self-depreciating moment, Iman said, with a twinkle in his eye, “In show business, it can be hard if you don’t fit in to a musical category.”
The audience chuckled.
Much lip service is paid to being out-of-the-box, but when it comes to commercial success, being in the box is what counts.
More information about Manuel Iman and his music can be obtained at the Web site, manueliman@charter.net