FlamenCubana

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Saturday, November 21st, 2015
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

¡FlamenCubana!
The passion and fire of flamenco | the sizzling sounds of Cuba
www.flamencubana.com

Twelve internationally-renowned artists from Spain, Cuba, and Venezuela join together for the premiere performance of ¡FlamenCubana!

Combining the passion and fire of Spanish Flamenco with the intoxicating sounds of Cuban music, ¡FlamenCubana! is a celebration of two great and influential musical cultures linked through history, promising an unforgettable night of sight and sound. From boleros to salsa, rumbas to traditional, jazz and pop flamenco, it is a night of Cuban and Andalusian music at its finest.

¡FlamenCubana! brings together extraordinary contemporary Spanish Flamenco artists with one of today's top Cuban music groups. Cuba's El Grupo Cubano Brisas del Palmar, Spanish bailaora Pastora Galván, guitarist Antón Jimenez, and pianist Rosario Montoya share the stage with singer-cantaora Jafelin, originally from Venezuela. They are part of a cast of 12 international musicians that brilliantly showcase the rich music that has resulted from centuries of Latin American and Spanish contact and connection.

El Grupo Cubano Brisas del Palmar was formed in Santiago, Cuba by brothers Rosel and Yordanis Lamoru in 1999. The quintet is a vital part of the "Grupo 450", a prestigious catalogue at the Cuban Institute of Music of the best Cuban music groups, and they perform regularly in Cuba in addition to touring Canada. They play a varied repertoire of traditional Cuban music: a capellas, romantic ballads, salsa, son, guaracha, merengue, cumbia and bachata, perfecting both popular and original compositions in all genres.

Pastora Galván is one of the most sought-after flamenco dancers in the world. From a family of highly respected flamenco dancers, over the last 15 years she has travelled the world performing in many countries. Pastora has danced at some of the globe's most prestigious flamenco festivals to great acclaim, and has worked with a range of renowned flamenco artists, such as Eva Yerbabuena, Fernando Terremoto, “La Susi”, Niño de Pura, María Pagés, José Luis Rodríguez, and others. This is Pastora's first time in Canada, and she will perform with a singer and guitarist.

Antón Jimenez is an electrifying flamenco guitarist as well as a composer, and is a descendent of the great guitarists Ramón Montoya and Mario Escudero. He has accompanied many world-renowned Spanish artists such as singer Diego "El Cigala" and flamenco dancer Joaquín Cortés. Antón appears in the movie “Flamenco” by Carlos Saura, and after winning the 1995 national guitar award in Spain, collaborated as guest artist with U2 at the Palau San Jordi. Since then he has composed music for, and collaborated on, recording projects with a number of Spanish artists and has toured the world as a soloist. This is his first time in Canada.

Rosario Montoya, also known as La Reina Gitana (Gypsy Queen) has had a special vocation for the piano since she was very young. At only four years of age she had her first contact with the instrument, and by age 16 was a concert pianist. Having attended the Spanish National Conservatory of Music, Rosario is considered the first and only woman of gypsy descent, a social group which traditionally has imposed severe limitations on women, to have received the title of professor and piano instrumentalist at the Spanish national level. She maintains an active career in different fields of classical chamber music and symphonic flamenco, teaches piano, and tours widely. This, too, will mark Rosario's first Canadian appearance.

Jafelin is originally from Venezuela, and today is considered one of Canada's preeminent flamenco and Latin singers, with many Spanish genres in her repertoire. She has recorded three albums, the most recent a collaboration with Brisas Del Palmar which was recorded in Santiago de Cuba earlier this year.

These artists, accompanied by percussionists El Morito and Italy's Davide Sampaolo, promise an exceptional night of entertainment - bringing together two dynamic and mesmerizing musical cultures into one evening that will delight and inspire fans of flamenco, dance and Cuban music.