Flamenco International presents Travesuras On Sunday, October 3, Flamenco International presents Ricardo Diaz’ Travesuras CD Release Tour featuring performers from Spain, France and the USA. Flamenco guitarist Ricardo Diaz, who recently recorded his debut album in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain (the cradle of flamenco music) will be joined by renowned international musicians Cristo Cortes, Vicente Griego and Antonio Arrebola plus special guests. Ricardo Diaz discovered the art of flamenco in San Francisco, CA where he began his studies with guitarist Jorge Liceaga. Later, he traveled to Madrid, Spain where he studied with “El Entri” and “El Viejin”. Ricardo was soon working in Bay Area tablaos accompanying many flamenco artists. He began traveling the U.S. and Europe working with Gypsy singer Cristo Cortes and Flamenco Sur. Ricardo continued touring in China with a San Francisco group led by guitarist Roberto Aguilar. Ricardo has appeared on Shaw TV, CBC Canada, Fox, NBC and TF1 in France. He has been interviewed in the SF Chronicle and in Argentina by flamenco magazine Contratiempo as well as by by websites such as SF Flamenco and Luna del Olivar. He has continued working in
different penas in Seville and festivals around the world with renowned flamenco artists such as La Tania, Alejandro Granados, Jesus Montoya, Jose Anillo, Juan Requena, Pastora Galvan, Canito, Alegria Suarez, David Lagos and Andres Marin. Cristo Cortes was born in Marseilles in 1971. He comes from a family of singers from the region of Almeria (Andalusia). At the age of six he distinguished himself in weddings and family Juergas, then quickly on stage with his brothers. In 1996 Cristo toured France and Spain with the great singer Carmen Linares. In Paris he sang in an adaptation of the short life of Manuel de Falla with the National Orchestra of Ile de France. During 1998 he was invited to sing at the coffee tablao Chinitas Madrid where he accompanied dancers from Seville tablao Los Gallos. He also spent five months in Tokyo with dancer Juan Andrés Maya, and in 1999 he toured the United States and Mexico with dancer Andres Marin. In 2001 Cristo toured the United States and Canada with dancer Alejandro Granado Seville. In 2004, he toured France with the celebrated show Romancero Gitano. Cristo Cortes is currently recognized as the greatest
flamenco singer in France, respected and sought by many artists around the world for his unique timbre and vast knowledge of the flamenco art (song, dance, guitar), long stage experience and great human qualities. Antonio Arrebola is one of the most promising young dancers in Spain today. He started to dance at age eight and received instruction in ballet and classical Spanish dance at the Conservatory of Malaga. At the same time, he begins studying flamenco seriously with Susana Lupianez and Pepe Ruiz. In 2001 the Fundación Cristina Heeren de Arte de Flamenco in Seville offered him a full scholarship to continue his studies with flamenco greats such as Manolo Soler, Javier Barón and Hiniesta
Cortés. Mario Maya selected Antonio as a student at the Centro Escénico in Granada, where he studied with Alejandro Granados, Rafaela Carrasco, Belen Maya, Juan Andres Maya and Mario Maya himself. Antonio Arrebola has come to elate audiences in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Italy, Marroco, Canada and Japan. Most prominently, he worked with Yoko Komatzubara, Ursula López and Rafael Cortés, with whom he opened up for Paco de Lucía at the Leverkusener Jazztage Festival in 2006. Vicente Griego “El Cartucho” is from Dixon/Embudo, New Mexico. He has devoted his life to the art of flamenco singing. In 1992, Vicente began touring
The Bear Facts On Monday, October 18, Mike Thrasher Presents welcomes Minus the Bear, Tim Kasher (of Cursive) and AM. Minus the Bear is touring in support of OMNI, the Seattlebased band’s fourth full-length recording and debut Dangerbird Records release. As evinced by the album’s all-encompassing title, Minus the Bear have merged their myriad influences into a sweeping collection marked by its sensual melding of city-stomping rock and deep funk grooves. That spirit of sonic lasciviousness is mirrored in the album’s raw take on human sexuality -- a theme as elaborate as the band’s extraordinary music. Boldly experimental , OMNI is, “a real leap forward,” singer/ guitarist Jake Snider says. “It’s an impactful sounding record.” Founded in 2001, Minus the Bear’s EPs and albums each drew
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escalating acclaim and a host of new fans. 2007’s Planet of Ice was followed by the band’s most intensive touring thus far, repeatedly traveling the US, as well as Europe, Australia, and Japan. The nonstop roadwork served to increase the band’s kinetic power and intensity -- a mindset they were determined to bring with them when they returned to the studio. Says guitarist Dave Knudson. “We feel like the live show is really where you get to see what we’re doing.” This time out MTB wanted to collaborate with an outside producer. Joe Chiccarelli, who just won a Grammy Award for his work with The Raconteurs, flew up to Seattle and the rapport was immediate. “Joe kicked a lot of us in the ass more than any of us had ever been kicked in the ass before,”
with the José Greco II Flamenco Dance Company, where he was mentored by Caño Roto singer Alfonso “Veneno” of Madrid, Spain. Vicente remains a pupil of acclaimed guitarist Chuscales and continues to accompany internationally renowned companies such as Yjastros, Juan Siddi Flamenco Company, Carola Zertuche’s Teatro Flamenco, Martinez’ Pueblo Viejo, Fanny Ara, Jesus Montoya y Pureza Flamenca and Encuentro, to name a few. Vicente Griego “El Cartucho” is striking for his deep, sonorous wails that seem to come from a cavern, someplace deep within his soul. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Doors open at 1:30 pm; showtime 2:00. ★ says Knudson. “We were doing 10 or 12 takes, more than any of us had ever played, but obviously all those takes paid off.” OMNI sees each member bringing a diverse tableau of individual influences to the table, with keyboardist Alex Rose, bassist Cory Murchy and drummer Erin Tate expressing a significant interest in jazz, hiphop, R&B and 70s funkadelia. “Those underlying elements seeped through,” Knudson says, “whether or not we were cognizant of the fact that was happening. There’s a lot more groove, a lot more soul, a lot more feeling that comes across.” “We always wanted to see just how weird we can make a pop song,” Snider says, “but I think at some point we abandoned that and just started wanting to write really good songs.” Since making their WOW Hall debut in October 2005, Minus the Bear has returned for shows in 2006 and 2008. “We’ve got a lot of fans that really care about us,” Knudson says, “that just love the music and keep coming out to show after show after show.” “The main thing we try to accomplish is putting together something that we’re going to enjoy playing forever,” Snider says. “We always make sure that we want to hear the song as much as anybody else.” Tickets are $15 advance, $17 at the door, available from WOW Hall and TicketsWest. Doors 7:00 pm; showtime 7:45. ★
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