Flamenco Spotlight, April 2022

Flamenco Winners in 2022 Odeón Awards

Spain’s prestigious Odeón Awards announced the 2022 winners in the Flamenco categories. Maka’s song “El aire” won the Best Flamenco Song Award. Miguel Poveda’s “Diverso” received the Best Album Award. Meanwhile, Niña Pastori won the Odeón Flamenco Artist award and Shakira Martinez was bestowed the Odeón Flamenco Rising Artist award.

Flamenco Guitarist José Almarcha Reveals “A Cata” Music Video

Acclaimed flamenco guitarist and composer José Almarcha has released a music video of his composition “A Cata” (Taranta). The piece appears on the album “Alejandra”, released in February 2021.

More about José Almarcha.

SGAE Foundation’s ‘Solo Flamenco’ 2022 Series

Juan Carmona, flamenco coordinator for the SGAE Foundation, curates the series Solo Flamenco. This year’s series will take place April 7- 9 at the Sala Berlanga venue in Madrid.

Solo Flamenco will present the current pulse of Flamenco tradition with performances by guitarist Carlos de Jacoba; José Serrano, bassist Julián Heredia and percussionist and cantaor (singer) Juan Motos, nephew of Diego el Cigala and member of the Farina dynasty. Additionally the series will highlight a grand lady of flamenco, Chelo Pantoja, as well as acclaimed producer, director and performer Antonio Carbonell.

Thursday, April 7

Juan Motos

Juan Motos, vocals; Joni Jimenez, guitar; Lucas Carmona, percussion

Antonio Carbonell

Antonio Carbonell, vocals; José Carbonell “Montoyita”, guitar; Pedro Gabarre “Popo”, percussion

Friday, April 8

Jose Serrano

José Serrano, guitar, vocals and clapping; Joni Losada, bass; Israel Suárez “Piraña”, cajon

Carlos de Jacoba

Carlos de Jacoba, guitar and vocals; Nathanael Borja, bass; Antonio Losada, percussion

Saturday, April 9

Chelo Pantoja

Chelo Pantoja, vocals and clapping; Jesus Nuñez, guitar

Julian Heredia

Julian Heredia, bass; Juan José Suárez “Pakete”, guitar; Benjamin Santiago, percussion

All concerts at 8:30 p.m.
Location: Berlanga Hall (Calle Andrés Mellado, 53. Madrid)
Tickets: €6.50* On sale at the box office and at entradas.com

Círculo Flamenco de Madrid Concert by La Fabi and Curro Carrasco

The Círculo Flamenco de Madrid has scheduled a concert by La Fabi on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Curro Carrasco will accompany her on guitar. The concerts will begin at 10:30 pm at the Madrid Flamenco Theater (Teatro Alfil), located at Calle del Pez 10. The general public can purchase tickets at: https://cfm.teatroflamencomadrid.com

Rocío Márquez and Bronquio’s “A Broken Wing”

Rocío Márquez, the pristine voice of the new generation of Flamenco cante jondo (deep song) and Bronquio, one of the rising sensations of the electronic scene in Spain joined forces on Un Ala Rota (Broken Wing).

The duo slowly cooked the album “Tercer Cielo”, scheduled for release in May 2022 on Universal Music Spain.  

‘Flamenco Night’ with Dancer Carlota Benedí in Zaragoza

The ‘Flamenco Night’ series will present dancer Carlota Benedí and an instrumental ensemble on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at Rock & Blues Cafe Zaragoza. The lineup includes leading Zaragoza-based musicians: guitarists Alejandro Monserrat and Nacho Estévez ‘El Niño’; the violinist Noelia Gracia; and percussionist Josué Barrés.

On this occasion, Carlota Benedí will present a flamenco repertoire with some mestizo-tinged pieces. Dancer, teacher and choreographer, Benedí’s career is mainly linked to flamenco as a dancer in traditional groups such as Alejandro Monserrat Grupo. Carlota will incorporate other dance forms such as tap, Middle Eastern, modern, and kathak.

Perrate Produced by Raül Refree

Flamenco singer Perrate has joined forces with producer Raül Refree on his upcoming album “Tres Golpes.”

“Tres Golpes” developed over several years. Initially, Perrate selected and worked on the songs. Perrate describes the process: “The songs of Tres Golpes are mostly personal adaptations of old songs of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries which previously passed through that multicultural region known as ‘Afro-Andalusian Caribbean’ – where African slaves, Native Americans and European adventurers of all kinds, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, came together”.

Perrate self-released a demo. His artistic director Pedro G. Romero suggested Perrate work with Raül Refree, the producer who, through his work with Rosalía, Silvia Pérez-Cruz, and many others, specialized in contemporary, cross-over flamenco.

Perrate adds: “I don’t care what the most radical traditionalist minds may think of this or any other work I do. This is my time and I intend to live it according to my way of feeling and living flamenco – my ancestors had a lot to do with the birth of this culture, and each of them created according to their feelings and their time. And I do the same.”