Flamenco guitarist Pedro Cortes returns to Orcas for Ciudad NW Flamenco on Friday, April 5
Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall
Ciudades(Cities) Northwest Flamenco Tour begins April 5th at The Odd Fellows Hall on Orcas Island. The 8 p.m. performance kicks off dancer Savannah Fuentes’s latest tour. Savannah has independently brought internationally recognized Flamenco artists to diverse communities throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho for the past five years. Ciudades celebrates her love of Flamenco and her love of the Northwest with 25 presentations of Flamenco music and dance in fouor states. She will be joined by renowned Gypsy singer Jesus Montoya of Seville as well as master guitarist Pedro Cortes
“Real Flamenco, straight up and stunning,” Regina Hackett, The Seattle P.I.
Jesús Montoya is from Seville, Spain. Born into the one of the oldest Gypsy families. Jesus was steeped in flamenco purity and power. He earned him the name “ El Rey Del Fandangos Grande” at age 7. By age 9 he had started his professional singing career and at age 13 he had started to tour with various professional companies.
Savannah Fuentes. Photo courtesy of Stephen Rusk
Now a true master of the flamenco arts, Jesús is a man of overwhelming integrity who sets a paramount high standard both in self expectation and in those who work with him. In addition to his Spanish and European touring credentials, he has toured tirelessly with major flamenco companies throughout the United States and Canada to sold out audiences including: Jose Greco, Maria Benitez, La Tania, and Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos.
An accomplished recording artist as well, including CD’s of original compositions as well as collaborations with various world class artists, Jesús has released his 8th CD with musical genius Osvaldo Golijov and Duetsche Grammophon which featured him as the voice of Ruiz Alonzo. In addition to being the one most respected and sought after touring flamenco singers in the US, he continues to perform with his own flamenco company “Pureza Flamenca”, widely known for putting on some of the greatest and most exciting flamenco shows worldwide. This award winning 11 member company of distinguished flamenco artists are nothing less than brilliant.
Pedro Cortes, comes from a family of Spanish Gypsy guitarists and began his studies with his father and the esteemed Flamenco guitarist Sabicas. He was commissioned by Zorongo Flamenco to write a score for a dance drama called “Garden of Names” which was inspired by the novel of Lawrence Thornton’s called “Imagining Argentina”. He also wrote music for a children’s program on HBO called “Fairy tale for Every Child.”
Mr. Cortes is artistic director of his own Flamenco Fusion group Amanecer Flamenco De Hoy, and also Musical Director of Mimbre Y Vareta and Zorongo Flamenco . Cortes is a third generation Flamenco guitarists and uses the experience passed down to him by his family to maintain the purity of Flamenco while creating new compositions.
Tickets are $10 student/low-income, $18 general, $35 VIP sponsor available at www.brownpapertickets.com.
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