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 Last updated Sunday October 21, 2001 11:28am EST (GMT -0500) |
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Editor's note: There are some flamenco-influenced performers that many of you seem to like. So I decided to create another webpage to make announcements of performances and workshops of the aflamencado genre. I'd appreciate any comments you might have. Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra at the Birchmere Sunday October 21, 2001
Still, regardless of their national origin, their music appeals to many people from different cultural backgrounds. In fact, my interest in flamenco guitar was first sparked when I heard an instrumental of theirs called "Inspiration."  They'll be at the Black Cat again to celebrate the release of their new CD, Sevilla. Please visit the Young and Rolins official website. Shahin (of the internationally known Washington DC-based duo Shahin and Sepehr) writes: "Young & Rollins are two of the finest players of Spanish Guitar in the DC area demonstrating a strong ability to interweave jazz and salsa motifs within a given composition"Listen to some samples.
Their next CD which is titled Sevilla is to be released in November 2001.
Visit the official Young and Rollins website for more info. Hay que escuchar este 'Flamencobilly' para descrubrir un sonido de las calles y bares de Andalucía, un reflejo de la vida urbana y callejera bajo el vestido de una malagueña, un tango o una alegría."
(Preview some of their songs at Amazon.com) I don't know about you, but I've got to hear this for myself. And fortunately, Martires de Compás will be performing in the DC area on Thursday August 16, 2001 at noon at the Capitol and on Friday August 17, 2001 at 6:00pm at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage. Both performances are FREE. For the rest of you, here is their USA tour schedule: August 2001:
My thanks to Noly for this info. Visit his website at http://usuarios.tripod.es/martir56/index.html  Upon listening to his music, one thinks: "It's rock...it's jazz...it kinda sounds like flamenco. What should I call it"? How about "eclectic guitar?" as Greg seems to suggest on his website (see address below). We first met about five years ago...surprise, surprise...through the Internet. I signed the guestbook of his first music website indicating that I was also a local guitarist. Since I lived in Arlington and he was nearby in Alexandria, we sort of musically hooked up from there. I'll let Greg elaborate:
"1997: I spent some time in Duck, North Carolina writing songs for my CD titled Fireflies. This is the year I decided to take a nice long break from Rock music and develop my solo artist skills. I learned all about Flamenco guitar techniques that I could. Week after week, I would attend my friend Michael Pérez's flamenco dance classes that he played for. This was a great learning experience for me. Greg performs occasionally at Café La Ruche on Wednesday nights. It's located at 1039 31st Street, NW just off of M St in Georgetown. Call (202)965-2684 To preview samples of Greg Reiter's music, visit his website at www.gregreiter.com
 Being a guitarist myself, I couldn't help noticing his very polished technique but the difference is that he knows how to use it to bring out the best in whatever piece he is playing or improvising. I had a very enjoyable time listening to and meeting Michael afterwards.
Listen for yourself--he has MP3's available at his website at http://www.michaelbard.com/.
Latest news: Michael recently returned from a tour of the Middle East and North Africa during March 2001. Congratulations!
This time I'm going to introduce Ben Woods, a California-based guitarist who's experimenting with the combination of flamenco and heavy metal. Visit Ben's website and listen for yourself.
You might also want to checkout John Gilliat's Noveau Flamenco Guitar website where Ben is listed in the artists section together with others in this genre.
Friday, March 2, 2001 at 8:00pm at Borders Books & Music, White Flint Mall in Kensington MD.
And now after four commercially successful CD releases, it seems like the right time for "The Best of Shahin and Sepehr." It's called East/West Highway and was just released in late November. You can order this CD by visiting their official website or Amazon.com More details at his official website. In the Family Turns out these friends had just performed at Wolf Trap with Ishtar, a singer of Egyptian/Morrocan ancestry. (Together they form the group Alabina)
Santiago said to me, in Spanish, "We are all family here. Just play!" And so I did. Guitarist Ramón (above right) joined in and singer Antonio (below left) starting to sing a little bulería.
Of course I learned so much just by listening and watching that I will to have to sign off for a couple of days to digest the new material and practice, practice, practice! Ciao for now. If you weren't able to make it to Wolf Trap, read about Alabina in Juan Martín's review.
Photos by Soheila
Please give me some feedback
This page is part of the DCFLAMENCO website. |
Past and upcoming shows January 24, 2001: Shahin & Sepehr at Olsson's Metro Center store January 27, 2001: Young and Rollins at the Millenium Stage March 2, 2001: Shahin & Sepehr at Border's Books in White Flint. Details March 8, 2001: Young & Rollins at Iota in Arlington. Details May 30-31, 2001: Gipsy Kings at Wolf Trap June 9, 2001: Young and Rollins at Celebrate Fairfax Fair. Details June 30, 2001: Young and Rollins at the WAMA Crosstown Jam. Details August 16, 2001: Martires del Compás at the Capitol at noon August 17, 2001: Young and Rollins at the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden August 17, 2001: Martires del Compás at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage August 28, 2001: Martires del Compás at the Glenn Allen Cultural Center (Richmond) August 30, 2001: Martires del Compás at Paloma's in Baltimore September 23, 2001: Young and Rollins at Olde Towne Gaithersburg Day October 21, 2001: Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra XL2 at the Birchmere December 1, 2001: Young and Rollins CD release party at the Black Cat
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Yeah, you read right, Flamencobilly. According to Martires de Compás guitarist Noly's website:
There are a number of DC area groups that perform the ever popular rumba flamenca repertoire. The newest on the scene is Duende Camarón--made up of musicians Cesar, Junior and José. They perform on Fridays and Saturdays at Las Tapas at 710 King St in Old Town Alexandria.
Last year I told you about a group that intermingled flamenco and salsa.
We were partying again Saturday July 29 at West End Grill in Bethesda, when my friend Juan Martín called to tell me that he's bringing some musician friends.
The way they played and sang was very inspiring. Guitarist Santiago (pictured above left) then asked me to play guitar. I felt a little embarassed: I didn't want to destroy the ambience.
After a two-hour concert at Wolf Trap, Santi, Ramón and Antonio probably did not intend to put on another show at our little gathering. They sang and played for themselves and for the enjoyment of those who were fortunate to be there. For a short while, I felt like I was in the "family."