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Posts: 833
Joined: Oct. 29 2006
From: Olympia, WA in the Great Pacific Northwest
Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?....
The idea of relocating to L.A. in the not-to-distant future has been put on the table for me in a potentially serious way, and I’m curious as to what sort of flamenco situation they’ve got going on down there. I figure that, being a massive city with lots of Latin types, there’s got to be a fair amount of action going on, but I don’t actually know of any specific who’s and where’s.
The idea of relocating in general has been in the air for a while now, and I’ve lately come to realize that the presence of a solid flamenco scene with serious opportunities to learn accompaniment is not just one of many factors that will affect my choice, but is absolutely essential.
So, any ideas, general or specific would be greatly appreciated.
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to srshea)
They have singers in LA.!!!...... Jesus Montoya and Antonio de Jerez...... Adam del Monte, Paco Arroyo and Jose Tanaka teach there as well as other guitarists. Fountain Theater has a regular running flamenco show there. Quite a bit of flamenco.
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to srshea)
Sure. Felix de Lola, Paco Albiac, Roberto Zamora are here in in Bay Area. Most other places in the US don't have a whole lot going on as far as singers. Any place where there ARE singers will offer a huge potential for learning. If you move to LA, I will make the introduction to Jesus and you can start to cultivate a relationship from there. I am working with him in Orange County for a concert this weekend....... SaddleBack College if anyone is in the neighborhood.
Posts: 833
Joined: Oct. 29 2006
From: Olympia, WA in the Great Pacific Northwest
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to JasonMcGuire)
Wow, Jason, that’s super nice! I’ll definitely take you up on the offer if the move goes down…..
The Bay Area is also always at or near the top of my list of places to live. I’ve actually moved there twice in the past (pre-flamenco days), and it’s the major American metro that I feel the most comfortable in. They say “the third time’s the charm”…..
I’m already getting a lot of good stuff from searching those names you dropped, so thanks again!
Posts: 833
Joined: Oct. 29 2006
From: Olympia, WA in the Great Pacific Northwest
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to JasonMcGuire)
Oh, and I'm sure it goes without saying, but I'm definitely ages away from being at the point where I could accompany real singers. But I figure where there are pro singers, there have to be students.....
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to srshea)
Felix de Lola also plays guitar. A singer that can accompany himself makes a killer teacher for accompaniment. Also Antonio de Jerez (Antonio Sanchez) plays guitar and Paco Albiac as well.
By the way..... I met a fantastic local luthier at my workshop today here in Orange County. Her name is Monica Esparza and I briefly played 2 of her guitars. A blanca and and Negra. Both were very easy to play and sounded super "flamenca". She does beautiful French Polish and learned to build guitars from Romanillos in Spain. I think she is worth checking out as far as SoCal guitarmakers go.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to JasonMcGuire)
quote:
ORIGINAL: JasonMcGuire
Are you coming through the Bay Area Ricardo?
Uh no I don't think so. Just in LA for a couple days, I think 30th through agust 1st. Probably stay in Long Beach with Jesus. Then on the 2nd I go with a friend to Fresno to teach and perform a bit for a couple more days. At least that is the plan right now....
Posts: 1156
Joined: Dec. 6 2006
From: Hamilton, ON
RE: Los Angeles Flamenco Scene?.... (in reply to srshea)
Paco Arroyo in Glendale is (as mentioned) a brilliant guitarist. Expensive but I think with consistent lessons he'd make a damn good guitarist out of you. I was out there last summer, took a couple of lessons with Paco and wish I'd run into him earlier. If you're going to be around Pasadena, there's a nice little restaurant called Luna Negra in the Old Town area that has flamenco shows, like, four nights a week (Thurs-Sat or Sun), about an hour each, nothing ultra-fancy but not amateur hour either. Some very solid guitarists, especially. Nice treat at the end of the week.
Looks like I might well be in Pasadena again this summer so I'm interested too... probably won't have a car to get around but I'm sure I can find a way out :)
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