10
/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE
/ JUNE 2012
Photos courtesy of Spain Arts and Culture
FLAMENCO
By: Veronica Brown
Mariza. When asked about what he thought were the origins of Flamenco Javier expressed his philosophy that “Music is universal with infinitesimal details and indescribable hues. There are secrets on all sides.” Though raised in Spain, Javier is a global citizen, having studied in New York City and traveled extensively. This international vibe has made Javier a master of mixing Flamenco with Latin music, jazz, and exploring the secrets of its origins through Indian and Middle Eastern rhythms.
Acclaimed composer and producer Javier Limón brings his rich experience into directing The Flamenco Soul Project. The group will present music from the Flamenco Soul album they recorded in collaboration with the Berklee College of Music in Boston this past November Javier has composed for such renown artists as Paco De Lucia, Bebo Valdés and El Cigala (on their famous Lagrimas Negras), and Concha Buika. His last solo album, Mujeres de Agua, brought together some of the best female voices from around the globe from Buika to Portuguese fado singer
The moves are brought by dancer Nino de los Reyes. This man’s feet are on fire; his moves are graceful and rapid. The son of renowned choreographers and dancers, Nino began dancing as a young child. He studied Flamenco at the Amor De Dios School in Madrid with such masters of the craft as Antonio Reyes and Josele Heredia. As if predicting his future success, Nino was cast at age 7 as a young Joaquín Cortes, one of the best know Flamenco dancers in the world. Now considered a rhythmic virtuoso, Nino dazzles as the main dancer in the show. The rest of this all-star ensemble consists of its musicians. Beautiful leading lady, Ariadna Castellanos is a young piano prodigy. She is the first Spanish musician to achieve the prestigious Presidential Scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Besides leading the tribute to Paco de Lucia in 2010, Ariadna toured the US with her Middle Eastern Quintet, and has collaborated with the likes of Alejandro Sanz. Her Piano Flamenco is a must listen. On the drums is Jose Antonio Alvarez Montana, a Spaniard through and through, José Antonio studied at the most traditional Flamenco schools in Spain. His eclectic nature however led him to study in Cuba under Chucho Valdez and the percussionists of the band Yoruba. This has tinged his sound with that Latino sazón.
Latino musicians add a special flavor to The Flamenco Soul Project. Puerto Rican native Jereme De Jesus is the show’s flute player. Jeremy is finishing his last semester at the Berklee College of Music and has collaborated with artists such as Jerry Rivera, Victor Mendoza, and Chucho Valdez. Alongside Jeremy is the Mexican percussionist Jose Andres Marquez whose talents also brought him to the Berklee College. As a testament to the far reaching influence of flamenco, the show’s acoustic bass player is Tamir Shmerling who hails from Tel Aviv, Israel. The show itself will follow a timeline path, starting with the origins of flamenco and ending with the fusions that characterize its future. As one of Spain’s most important cultural legacies, Flamenco forms an integral part of our Latino heritage. The Flamenco Soul Project invites you to explore this heritage at the Howard Theatre on Saturday, June 23, 2012. There is no doubt the show will leave you shouting, OLE! For more information visit: www.thehowardtheatre.com. █