Olé!

July 18, 2008. Posted by .

Add new comment | Filed under: Discovery, Diversions, Live Music, Theater

There may be a bit of a glut of Flamenco dancers, singers and guitarists in NYC and environs nowadays, and tourists can get a skirt steak and soléa in more than a few Manhattan spots. But if you wanna get a look at the real deal "Flamenca pura," you will not be disappointed if you head out to Theater 80 on St. Mark's Place for a performance by Noche Flamenca. The group has started a six-week run at the venue and it's a perfect spot for them, so intimate you can see the sweat beads on the dancers' foreheads.

If you're a fan of Flamenco or if you've ever wanted to get an introduction to the art form, I highly recommend them. You can hear some more about Noche Flamenca on the WBGO Journal tonight. Here's a clip from a dress rehearsal last week. Dig. - Cruz

© 2008 WBGO

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FIJM Interview: Stewart D'Arietta

July 5, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: Discovery, FIJM, Interviews

Stewart D'Arietta has been performing the music of Tom Waits during the entire Montreal Jazz Festival. He sat down with Michael Bourne to talk about the music and the show, Belly of a Drunken Piano. Listen to the interview.

© 2008 WBGO

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Bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons

July 3, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: auray, berimbau, bowing technique, cello, contrebasse, Discovery, double bass, FIJM, fingers, flamenco guitar, francois rabbath, gesu, jazz players, Listening Post, montreal jazz festival, musicians, no doubt, percussion, pizzicato, renaud garcia fons, tutelage, woodshed

Notice anything unusual about this bass?

Take another look at the fretboard. You'll see five strings on the Jean Auray bass, a French-made instrument. But that's not the only difference. This bass is played by Renaud Garcia-Fons, who plays the instrument and makes it sound like a cello, a drum, a Brazilian berimbau, even a flamenco guitar. His pizzicato, or plucking style, sounds most like flamenco. Renaud uses the tips of his fingers, rather than the sides (like most jazz players). He has a flawless bowing technique, no doubt developed under the tutelage of the master of the contrebasse, Francois Rabbath. Garcia-Fons can execute a sequence on the double bass that would send most musicians back to the woodshed. He looks like he's doing these pyrotechnics with little effort.

But enough about technique. What makes Renaud Garcia-Fons so interesting is that he plays some amazing music. In Montreal, he performed with a trio (guitar, percussion) at the Salle de Gesu.

Click here to listen to Renaud Garcia-Fons at the Montreal Jazz Festival 2008.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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