FREE Concert SUNDAY: Paco Band in Raleigh

Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band will give a FREE concert Sunday (1/10), at 3 pm at the North Carolina Museum of History. Cuban soprano Teresa Fernández will sing songs of Spain and Latin America with the nuevo flamenco quartet.


VIDEO: Paco Band at Marsh Woodwinds 9/26/09

One hour program; seating in the NC Musem of History's Daniels Auditorium is limited, so early arrival is recommended.

The Music of the Carolinas concert series is co-sponsored by Pinecone.

Bohémia in Raleigh's Blue Note

UPDATED 10/5 - new video and review added BELOW



New video of Teresa Fernández and Ed Stephenson from Saturday night at Marsh Woodwinds:


[VIDEO] Teresa dedicated this tango by Carlos Gardel to a visiting friend from Argentina.

Full review to follow.

UPDATED 10/5:

The scene at Marsh Woodwinds was pretty as a nativity when Paco Band played to a packed house amid exotic bric a brac. The band included leader Ed Stephenson, Chris Hilton and Ryan Johnson, guitars, Peewee "Poquitico" Watson on bass, and Beverly Botsford guesting on percussion. There's no way to bury the sound in here; it's the moment of truth. The flamenco fusion consortium never sounded truer, with Botsford's superior range and spontaneity and Watson's surefoot basslines complementing Stephenson's virtuoso fretboard skills.

"The sound is really friendly," says Beverly, comparing Marsh's intimate performance space to New York jazz clubs.

"It's like a bohemian Blue Note," she says, alluding as much to the decor--things like the tigerskin-covered drum kit mounted into one wall--as to the incredible acoustics.

Teresa Fernández sang with Ed a due at the top of the second set, following a snack-filled intermission. (Marsh's hospitality is more like a house party than a formal venue, adding to the mood of proximity.) Teresa, a soprano born in Havana, Cuba, projects fragility and elegance, dressed all in black with a gold coin belt accentuating her slender waist and a lace shawl around her shoulders. Her voice isn't delicate, but clarion and without pretense.

"I like to tease her," says Ed, with Teresa within earshot, when asked what it is he most enjoys about working with the singer.

"The real reason is, she's so authentic. She's so authentic, and she has a beautiful voice, of course," says Ed.

There couldn't be a better place to hear this type of music, or this band.

Bonus video: Paco Band played "Hotel California" as an encore. I like this idea of reclaiming pop songs that have elements of flamenco (or some other Latin music) for "traditional" or "classical" or "authentic" performance. It's a way of connecting what listeners already know to something they think of as more foreign or distant.

Mallarme: Tango, Too

What are the odds of yet another afternoon tango salon, next Sunday (9/20)? This time at Duke with the Mallarme Chamber Players and Tango North Carolina dancers Amalia and Roberto Restucha and Alicia and Eduardo Lazarowski:

WHAT: Never Too Tango! Mallarme Chamber Players feat. Red Clay Saxophone Quartet and Tango North Carolina dancers
WHEN: 3 pm Sunday, 9/20
WHERE: Nelson Music Room, Duke University (East Campus), Durham

Cost: $18/advance, $20/door; Students $5 rush
Tickets: 919-560-2788, www.mallarmemusic.org

Musical personnel:
Susan Fancher, soprano sax
Robert Faub, alto sax
Steven Stusek, tenor sax
Mark Engebretson, baritone sax
Lorena Guillén, soprano
Jane Hawkins, piano
John V. Brown, double bass

Composers features include Paquito D’Rivera, Astor Piazzolla, Thierry Escaich and Alejandro Rutty; post-concert reception promises "Argentinian treats."

Tango Salon

Cecilia Pagani & Jason Laughlin of Tangophilia

FULL REVIEW of Sunday Salon at the Durham Arts Council, featuring Ed & Paco Band, coming soon...


UPDATE videos added 9/15:

The exquisite Teresa Fernández sings a danza here with guitarist Ed Stephenson from the second half of Sunday's program celebrating music of Spain:



Teresa and the Paco Band opened the program with a flamenco stunner, then the tango dancers came out. Here's a clip of Jason and Cecilia:



Adding a modern twist to the 19th-century classical guitar piece "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," dancer Lacy Lowder performed choreography by Carol Finley that seemed to allude to Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.

Stephenson, a music professor at Meredith College, named Paco Band after his flamenco guitar idol, Paco de Lucia.

"If Paco de Lucia played hockey, I'd probably have to marry him," joked Stephenson, a Canada native.

Rounding out the band on Sunday were guitarist Craig Hilton, bassist Peewee Watson whose americana projects include The Whistlestop, and world percussionist Beverly Botsford, who regularly backs jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon.

Beverly Botsford plays an astounding range of percussion, from the Afro-Cuban congas, bongo and shekere, to the atmospheric and multi-cultural rainsticks, chimes and castanets. Whatever the instrument, she plays it with the verve of a dancer, which is no accident.

"In 1974 when I was in college, I took a course in flamenco, and it just kind of stuck with me," she says.

.
Beverly also gave a short history and demonstration of the string cajon, a snare-rigged box used heavily in flamenco as well as Afro Peru and Cuba:



If you want to hear more, Beverly's all-percussion ensemble Tambor Vivo will perform a variety of Latin American rhythms ONE WEEK from Thursday, on (9/24), at Mosaic's free, no-cover monthly Cuban party. (See calendar; this reflects a SCHEDULE CHANGE.)

DAC's "Sunday Salon" was produced by writer, Pulitzer Prize nominee and Indy Arts Award winner Richard Krawiec, who delivers high quality, multi-arts programming to community audiences at low cost.

"This is part of my vision of making the arts vital and accessible," Krawiec says.

Links:
"Picasso and the Allure of Language" through Jan. 3, 2010 at Duke's Nasher Museum

Flamenco In Fusion

Celebrating the Nasher's currently running Picasso exhibition, Ed & the Paco Band will bring nuevo flamenco fusion to the Durham Arts Council this Sunday (9/13) at 3 pm with Cuban guest vocalist Teresa Fernández and percussionist Beverly Botsford.



Tangophilia dancers and choreographer Carol Finley will add Argentine tango and modern dance movement to the afternoon event, billed as a "Sunday salon."

WHAT: Ed & the Paco Band with musical guests Teresa Fernández and Beverly Botsford; dancers Tangophilia, Carol Finley.
WHEN: 3 - 5 pm Sunday, 9/13
WHERE: PSI Theater in Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Downtown Durham
Cost: $10, Students/Seniors/Unemployed $5
Contact: (919) 810-2863

BREAKING: Live Bandoneon on 9th St - SATURDAY

Thankfully we can re-run this for today--Saturday, 3/7. Apologize for the false alert last night. The details from Triangle Tango are below. If you want to have dinner at Metro 8 in conjunction with this milonga, reservations are recommended.

*******

Breaking news from the live tango frontline:

"Bandeonista Osvaldo Barrios will be playing at the milonga at the Metro 8 restaurant on 9th St. [in Durham] tonight. The milonga runs from 9 pm -2 am but i haven't been able to get a fix on when exactly Barrios will be playing."

That source prefers to remain on the downlow. Do your own digging.

Update: Eric did, and found this link:

"Triangle Tango and tangueros, Dan Plonski & Eduardo Lazarowski, are excited to be hosting bandoneon player, Osvaldo Barrios, at Metro 8, Saturday March 7th.

Osvaldo is originally from Argentina and has been playing the bandoneon since the age of 12. He has performed with many orchestras including, Miguel Calo, Mariana Mores, Jorge Caldara, and Mario DeMarco. More information on Osvaldo’s career can be found at www.bandoneonbarrios.com.

Thierry Olivry will DJ between the live music sets. Dancing is from 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Admission is $8."

Valentine's Day Roundup

Some Latin parties and events happening this weekend in honor of Valentine's Day--click on links to take you to more information:

--From Jason Laughlin of Tangophilia:

"Tangophilia's regular 2nd Saturday milonga at Triangle Dance Studio resumes this month with a Valentiney (sweets and winey) theme, and an introductory no partner required lesson at 8pm. Sunday afternoon, make a very short trip down to the Holly Springs Cultural Center to enjoy a special concert with Carolina Clarinet. Cecilia Pagani and I will be performing to the music of "History of Tango" by Astor Piazzolla and "It Takes 4 to Tango" by Daniel Dorff."

--From the Cobo Brothers:

"2nd SATURDAY VALENTINE "BLACK & RED" LATIN NIGHT
Copa Night @ George's Garage
February 14th, 2009

"Everyone dressed in BLACK and/or RED will be entered into a raffle with a chance to WIN dinner for 2 at Parizade's Mediterranean Flavors at play Restuarant, tickets to Bachata Sensation "Toby Love" concert, gift certificate for Cobobrothers Dance Academy classes, and more to be confirmed."

George’s Garage
737 Ninth St.
Durham, NC 27705
Copa starts @ 11:00pm
21 & OVER
$12 Cover
$8 Ladies before 11:30 pm
Dressy Attire (at management discretion): No Jeans, Sneakers, Hats, or T-Shirts"

--From Salsa4You:

Romantic Evening Oasis Valentine's Event presented by Colorful Waves Belly Dance Troupe
"An oasis of dance! Gourmet Desserts and Coffees, Candle Light, Live Music and Special Showcase of Dance Performances.
Date: February 14, 2007
Time: 7:00 - 10:00
Where: Triangle Dance Studio (2603 S. Miami Blvd.)
Contact: 919-803-1281
Website: www.colorfulwaves.com

--From Ricardo Diquez of the Tropic Orchestra:

"We cordially invite you to Valentine's Day with The Tropic Orchestra. Live music and DJ playing classic salsa and romantic favorites. Carmen's Cuban Cafe, 108 Factory Shops Rd, Morrisville (near the Airport and Outlet Mall).

--From Angie Xiomara at Triangle Salsa Meetup:

RUEDA Practice and Lessons
"Ruedardu.org is a group who loves to have fun and dance Casino Rueda. Our goal is to bring awareness. Lesson and practice will be at Triangle Dance Studio, Sunday, 4:30-6:00 pm, $5."