Where the heck is the flamenco in AZ?!

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Mitch

Posts: 48
Joined: Nov. 24 2005
From: AZ

Where the heck is the flamenco in AZ?!

Are there no good instructors in the Phoenix area?

Anyone?

- Phrustrated in Phoenix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 15:19:58

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

Pretty much why I stopped playing, got stalled and went over to the Dark Side (classical guitar). The only person really teaching was Chris Jacome Burton. You might be able to get some basics from Monte Perrault and pick up a little from Gaetano when he's in town. The best player here is Miguel Rodriguez, but good luck getting him to teach you!

By the way, the solution is simple: sign up with Skype lessons with our very own Ricardo. He will get you going in the right direction.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 15:40:14

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

went over to the Dark Side (classical guitar)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 16:21:35

Mitch

Posts: 48
Joined: Nov. 24 2005
From: AZ

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

Pretty much why I stopped playing, got stalled and went over to the Dark Side (classical guitar). The only person really teaching was Chris Jacome Burton. You might be able to get some basics from Monte Perrault and pick up a little from Gaetano when he's in town. The best player here is Miguel Rodriguez, but good luck getting him to teach you!

Ha! That's what I came up with too. I took a few lessons with CBJ, and had a couple of sessions with Monte. Gaetano is busy. Miguel Rodriguez is amazing (of course) and personable, but he is not in the lesson game. We had a nice phone chat about it before he told me to listen to Sabicas records and just do what he does. :)

Know anything about Ricardo de Cristobal?

quote:

By the way, the solution is simple: sign up with Skype lessons with our very own Ricardo. He will get you going in the right direction.

This is what I am thinking too. I'd like to find some people to accompany someday though. Maybe it's just up to us. :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 16:31:23

flamencositar

Posts: 76
Joined: Aug. 8 2012

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

I'm a total newbie to flamenco and I take skype lessons with our Sr. Ricardo Marlow. All I can say is he is a fantastic teacher and player. Never rushes through our lessons, answers all my questions,and I am always left with a headache from the most amazing knowledge bombs!!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 16:55:53

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

I live in Phoenix AZ as well!

I found that after I learned the basics, I picked up a lot of cool things from You tube?

Rombsix has some cool videos on lots of different styles!

Jose Tanka and Jason McGuire have some excellent online lessons!

When I get another flamenco guitar, I am gonna start taking some lessons with Ricardo as well.

Instead of quitting, we should all meet up and jam

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 18:27:58

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

Ricardo de Cristobal is a nice guy, but plays a version of flamenco that is unconventional and perhaps not the best for a student.

Miguel is one of those real early starters. That being said, what little advice he's given me has been very solid. I actually jammed on a couple rumbas with him last week at Tottie's.

Really, though--drop Ricardo (Marlowe) a line. I'm taking classical guitar Skype lessons from a guy on the East Coast. Having the best teacher is more important than sitting in the same room. If you get some basics down, you might ask Miguel to let you sit in (with guitar muted) at Tapas Papas. You could probably pick up a lot that way. Maybe Jon Newton at Pepin (still?) would let you sit in. Start getting dancers' phone numbers and start building up your harem. Call up Yumi and offer to play for her students. Of course, you will need to have basic compas down even for this.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 20:43:13

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

quote:

Ricardo de Cristobal is a nice guy, but plays a version of flamenco that is unconventional and perhaps not the best for a student.

Miguel, what do you mean by unconventional? Do you mean he teached eye and ear? Just curious as to what you mean?

Thanks,

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 21:57:28

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Kalo)

I mean he's doing his own thing. By the way, I have not studied with him.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 22:47:37

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

I was told by a person who briefly study with Ricardo De Cristobal that he loves and teaches old school flamenco and dislikes anything above 1960's.

The cool thing is if one does take lessons from him they will eventually get to sit in and do dance accompaniment! So that in itself is cool, I would think!

When I get my flamenco guitar, I will take lessons from Ricardo Marlow! I like to learn at my own pace and I am very opened to taking skype lessons..

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 23:02:33

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

quote:

The cool thing is if one does take lessons from him they will eventually get to sit in and do dance accompaniment! So that in itself is cool, I would think!

That's debatable,

lol jk, .......don't tell my girlfriend i said that haha.....

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 24 2013 23:58:22

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

This is for Miguel (with whom I shared lunch and good conversation at Rosita's Mexican Restaurant in Tempe last December), Kalo, and Mitch, regarding venues in the Phoenix-Tempe-Scottsdale area where there are regular flamenco guitar performances. I would appreciate any information you may have, so feel free to chime in.

I was born and grew up in Phoenix. Received my BA at Arizona State University and (after a few years in the US Air Force) my Master's Degree at the Thunderbird School of Global Management north of Glendale. I left Phoenix permanently in 1974 to come to Washington, DC to enter the US Department of State and pursue a diplomatic career as a US Foreign Service Officer. When I lived in Arizona there was no flamenco at all, although we produced a top-shelf flamenco dancer, Lydia Torea (actual name, Lydia Dzambik. She was a year ahead of me in my high school, although I did not know her well), who danced with Jose Greco's troup at the same time as a very young Paco de Lucia was playing with the group.

From time to time I have returned to Arizona for visits. There was a time when Gaetano was playing at the Hyatt at Gainey Ranch, north of Scottsdale. Miguel, you advised that he no longer performs there. Are there any venues in the Phoenix-Tempe-Scottsdale area that have regular flamenco performances now? I am planning a trip to Arizona this October to check out real estate in the Phoenix-Tempe-Scottsdale area and in Tucson, as I am giving serious thought to moving to Arizona within the next couple of years. Washington, DC is always interesting, but it has become a comfortable habit. I can see myself living in Arizona again, especially since I am now retired. And I can consult living anywhere. At any rate, while in the Phoenix area this coming October I would like to check out any places that might have flamenco performances.

Thank you in advance for any information.

Cheers,

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 25 2013 17:48:13

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to BarkellWH)

Bill, this is all I know of. But I don't get out much...

http://tapaspapafrita.com/AboutUs.html#entertainment
http://www.pepinrestaurant.com/

Make sure you check out the Lakes of Tempe, where I live. Great community!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 25 2013 20:24:41

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Miguel,

Many thanks. Much appreciated. I remember The Lakes was a pretty new community when I was living in Tempe, before coming to Washington, DC in 1974. Will definitely check it out.

I will be in touch via PM after I firm up the dates I will be in the area. My wife Marta will be with me. We will divide our time between spending a few days looking around Tucson, staying with a friend in Phoenix for a few days, and ending up with a few days at the Tempe Mission Palms hotel. Marta and I would like to get together with you and your family for lunch or dinner. Your choice for a restaurant, but I don't think we could go wrong with Rosita's again!

Thanks again. I'll be in touch.

Cheers,

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 25 2013 20:55:11

Kalo

Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Mitch)

Hi Bill,

I was just going to suggested the places Miguel did!

There is a flamenco dance studio in Tempe!

Ricardo De Cristobal, and his wife, Linda Machado offer guitar lessons and dance!

It's pretty cool...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 25 2013 21:38:51

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Kalo)

Thanks, Kalo. Looks like you and Miguel have homed in on a couple of decent places to check out. I look forward to checking them out when I visit Arizona in October.

By the way, does anyone know what Gaetano is doing these days? Apparently he is not playing around the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. I know in the past he has done a lot of demonstration playing for James Greenberg, who owns Zavaleta's la Casa de Guitarras in Tucson. Quite a few of the guitars that are featured on Zavaleta's website list Gaetano as the demonstration player.

While I am on the subject of Zavaleta's, I bought a Manuel Adalid Viviana blanca from Greenberg in 2009. He has some fantastic guitars at his emporium (which is actually at his home). His collection of vintage guitars is worth a visit alone. He graciously let me play a 1923 Santos Hernandez flamenco. I, of course, did not come close to doing it justice.

Cheers,

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 25 2013 21:54:55

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to BarkellWH)

I just heard the other day that he "moved" up to Sedona. I'm not sure whether that means he just left to beat the summer heat or he's actually relocating.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 26 2013 5:21:19

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Where the heck is the flamenco i... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

I just heard the other day that he "moved" up to Sedona. I'm not sure whether that means he just left to beat the summer heat or he's actually relocating.

Sedona!!! You have to have a million bucks to walk down the street in torn levis in Sedona. Did he suddenly come into a large inheritance? Or perhaps he has a regular gig to perform for Senator John McCain and his wife at their Sedona ranch. He certainly picked a nice place, whether it's temporary or permanent.

Cheers,

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 26 2013 11:18:55