Gigs News
June 2008
June 26. Music in Abe Lebewohl Park at 12:30PM at the Abe Lebewohl Park in front
of St. Mark's Church on the Bowery, 10th Street and 2nd Avenue. This is a free outdoors event.
For more info log on http://www.thirdstreetmusicschool.org/community.htm
February 2008
February 13. Drom-where
music comes alive- at 9:00PM. Located at 85 Avenue A (between 5th
and 6th Streets) New York, NY 10009. Tickets: $10.00
For more info call (212) 777
1157 or log on http://dromnyc.com/
February 9. Bronx
Library Center at 6:00PM. "Flamenco Music and Dance Presentation"
. Located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10458.
This is a free event.
For more information call (718) 579 4244 or log on http://www.nypl.org/bronxlibrarycenter.html
December 2007
December 31. Firts Night Binghamton. Southern Tier's celebration on the arts on New Year's Eve. Phelps Mansion , 191 Court Street, Binghamton, NY 13901 at 5:15PM and 7:15PM. For more information log on www.stcelebrates.org
December 13. Private corporate event.
November 2007
November 10. New
Andalucia at York University, 7:30PM. Noor Cultural Center, 123
Wyndford Drive, North York (Toronto), Ontario M3C 1K1 Canada.
Tickets: Adults $15 and Students $10.
For more information call (416) 444 7148
Zyriab's path to New Andalucia:
Arab music and Flamenco in New York. Tarab and Gazpacho
Andalú New Andalucia.
In 711 A.D., Arabs crossed Gibraltar to Iberia and for the next eight centuries
a tremendous exchange would take place. Great minds, ideas and art would cross
the strait back and forth and create a rich mix that transcends the boundaries
of religion, ethnicity and language. It is in this esthemus, this land in
between, that giants like Averroes, Maimonides, Alfonso El Sabio and Zyriab
would thrive. Thirteen centuries later, Gazpacho Andalú – a Flamenco group – and
Tarab – an Arab ensemble – reconnect through their music in New York City. Both
the time and the place of this encounter are significant: in this stifled
atmosphere of war on terrorism and anti-immigration sentiment, Tarab and
Gazpacho Andalú strive to reinstate New York as New Andalucia.
Alfonso Mogaburo (Vocals, Flute and Cajón)
Arturo Martínez (Guitar)
Bárbara
Martínez (Vocals and Dance)
Taoufiq Ben Amor
(Vocals, Oud and Percussion)
Zafer Tawil (Oud and Violin)
June 2007
June 26. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
June 21. Make Music New York Festival at 11:15 PM at the Abe Lebewohl Park in front of St. Mark's Church on the Bowery at 10th Street and 2nd Avenue. For more info log on http://www.makemusicny.org/
June19. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute and percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
June 12. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
June 5. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute and percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
May 2007
May 29. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
May 22. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute and percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
May 15. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
May 8. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute and percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
May 5. Joe's Pub at 5:30 PM. 425 Lafayette Street, New York, New York 10003.
"School of Fusion" A night of music and dance to benefit the East Village
Community School.
Proceeds go toward funding the arts and physical education program for
the school. Price includes finger food, goodie bags valued at $100,
cash bar and silent auction. Gazpacho Andalú will be part
of this gala benefit as a quartet with Alfonso Cid on vocals and flute,
Arturo Martínez on flamenco guitar, Gary Raheb on Cuban cuatro
guitar, oud and bass and Toni de Vivo on percussion and vocals.
Tickets $150. For more information and to buy tickets log on the Joe's Pub web site.
May 3. Xicala wine and tapas bar at 9:00 PM. Located at 151 Elizabeth Street (between Broome and Kenmare) There we'll be playing as a trio with Arturo Martínez, guitar; Alfonso Cid, vocals and flute; Sol Koeraus, Flamenco dancer and vocals. For more information call (212) 219 0599 or log on www.xicala.com
May 1. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
April 2007
April 28. Alwan
for the Arts at 9:00 PM. Zyriab's path to New Andalucia:
Arab music and Flamenco in New York. Tarab and Gazpacho
Andalú New Andalucia.
In 711 A.D., Arabs crossed Gibraltar to Iberia and for the next eight centuries
a tremendous exchange would take place. Great minds, ideas and art would cross
the strait back and forth and create a rich mix that transcends the boundaries
of religion, ethnicity and language. It is in this esthemus, this land in
between, that giants like Averroes, Maimonides, Alfonso El Sabio and Zyriab
would thrive. Thirteen centuries later, Gazpacho Andalú – a Flamenco group – and
Tarab – an Arab ensemble – reconnect through their music in New York City. Both
the time and the place of this encounter are significant: in this stifled
atmosphere of war on terrorism and anti-immigration sentiment, Tarab and
Gazpacho Andalú strive to reinstate New York as New Andalucia.
Alfonso Mogaburo (Vocals, Flute and Cajón)
Arturo Martínez (Guitar)
Bárbara
Martínez (Vocals and Dance)
Taoufiq Ben Amor
(Vocals, Oud and Percussion)
Zafer Tawil (Oud and Violin)
Ramzi Elidibi (Riq, Tabla and Dance)
Alwan for the Arts is located at 16 Beaver Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10004 Tickects: $15 ($10 Students with valid ID) For more information log on the Alwan for the Arts' web site or call (212) 967 43 18
April 24. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
April 17. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
April 10. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
April 3. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Maya de Silva dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
March 2007
March 27. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Maya de Silva dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
March 20. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 675 3312.
March 13. Cafe Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM. Located at 172 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and McDougal), New York, New York 10012. There we will be playing as a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals. For more information call (212) 505 0657.
March 6. Cafe
Español, Authentic Cuisine from Spain at 7 PM.
Located at 78 Carmine Street (between 7th Avenue and Bedford
Street), New York, New York 10014. There we will be playing as
a trio with José Ramos on guitar, Alfonso Cid on vocals, flute
And percussion and Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals.
For more information call (212) 675 3312.
February 2007
February 19. Children's Museum of Manhattan. 212 West 83rd Street, The Tisch Building
(between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues), New York, New York 10024
Cost :
Free with museum admission
Arturo Martínez on Guitar, Bárbara Martínez dancing and vocals and Alfonso
Cid on vocals and flute will join dancers Silvia Siller and Ana Saldamando at
the CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN. Bring your children and expose them to the
flamenco art in the kid friendly setting of this wonderful museum in the Upper
West Side. Performances are free with museum admission. Tickets will be
distributed from 12:30 PM at Visitors Information Desk on the day of the
performance. Space is limited. For more information log on www.cmom.org. Shows
at 2:00 and 3:00 PM.
February 16-25. Food
for thought. A Theatrical Tasting Device. Friday and
Saturday at 10:00 PM, Sunday at 5:30 PM. The Club at La MaMa
Experimental Theater Club. 74A East 4th Street, between Bowery
and Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003. Alfonso Cid and guest
guitarist Eduardo García will collaborate in this tasty theater
piece by Kim Ima and Onni Johson.
Tickets $15 (212) 475 7710 La MaMa box office. Online ticketing available at www.lamama.org.
January 2007
January 25-28. Some
of the members from Gazpacho Andalú will be performing with the
Andrea del Conte Danza España company at the Joyce Soho in NYC.
We'll be playing some of the original music by Gazpacho
Andalú within this wonderful Flamenco show featuring Andrea del
Conte and special guest artist Marco de Ana from Sevilla, Spain. Shows
start a 8:00 PM. The Joyce Soho Theater is loacted at 155 Mercer
Street (between Houston and Prince) New York, NY 10012.
General admission: $28 Students/Seniors: $25. For more information and reservations call (212) 334 7479 or log on joyce.org or www.delconte-danza.com
January 6. The
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine around 1:00 PM. Gazpacho
Andalú will
join flamenco dancer Sandra Rivera in a performance to celebrate "el
día de Reyes" or Kings Day. After the service at the
cathedral we'll be playing some Christmas carols with a Flamenco
flavor. The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine is located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, New York, 10025.
This is a free event.
December 2006
December 29. BAM
Café at 9:00 PM. The New Andalucía group, a sextet
formed by members of Gazpacho Andalú and Arabic music ensemble
Tarab, will be reconnecting the Moorish, Sephardic, Spanish and Gypsy
musical roots from Arab Andalusia at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Café. Located at Peter Jay Sharp Building. 30
Lafayette Avenue. Brooklyn, NY 11217. For more information call
(718) 636 4100 or log on www.bam.org/events/bamcafelive.aspx
This is a free event.
December 28. Gazpacho Andalú will be interviewed on Thursday December 28 on Univision Radio-WADO 1280 AM at 10:00 AM in the show "CARA A CARA". We'll have a half an hour spot and will be playing live!!! We hope you can tune in to the show or listen to it on line at http://www.univision.com/content/channel.jhtml?chid=9486&schid=9722
December 14. Xicala wine and tapas bar at 9:00 PM. Located at 151 Elizabeth Street (between Broome and Kenmare) There we'll be playing as a trio with Arturo Martínez, guitar; Alfonso Cid, vocals and flute; Bárbara Martínez, Flamenco dancer and vocals. For more information call (212) 219 0599 or log on www.xicala.com
December 2. Corporate event for Fidessa/Royalblue.
November 2006
November 10. Franklin Station Cafe at 8:00 PM. Located at 222 West Broadway (corner of West Broadway and Franklin Street). Nearest subway station is downtown 1 train to Franklin station. We will be performing three sets with Flamenco artists Maya de Silva, Arturo Martínez and Alfonso Cid. For more information call (212) 274 8525 or log on www.franklinstationcafe.com
October 2006
October 19. Xicala wine and tapas bar at 9:00 PM. Located at 151 Elizabeth Street (between Broome and Kenmare) There we'll be playing as a trio with Arturo Martínez, guitar; Alfonso Cid, vocals and flute; Maya de Silva, Flamenco dancer. For more information call (212) 219 0599 or log on www.xicala.com
October 18. Corporate event for Arquitectural Digest.
September 2006
September 8 through October 8. Some of the members from Gazpacho Andalú will be performing with the Andrea del Conte Danza España company at the THALIA SPANISH THEATER. We'll be playing some of the original music by Gazpacho Andalú within this wonderful Flamenco show. For more information log on Thalia Spanish Theatre
September 7. Xicala wine and tapas bar at 9:00 PM. Located at 151 Elizabeth Street (between Broome and Kenmare) There we'll be playing as a trio with Arturo Martínez, guitar; Alfonso Cid, vocals and flute; Maya de Silva, Flamenco dancer. For more information call (212) 219 0599 or log on www.xicala.com
August 2006
August 30. LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS (La Casita) presents Gazpacho Andalú at La Plaza Cultural. 5:30 PM Corner of 9th Street and Avenue C. This is a free event. www.lincolncenter.org
August 12. LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS presents Gazpacho Andalú with four more other acts from Portugal, the US, Greece and Morocco in The International Spirit of the Blues. 7:00 PM Damrosch Park, located at the southwest corner of the Lincoln Center Plaza, at 62nd Street near Amsterdam Avenue. This is a free event. www.lincolncenter.org
July 2006
July 28. CD release party at Barbés. 8:00 PM 376 9th Street (Park Slope,at the corner of 6th Avenue) Brooklyn, NY, 11215 Tl: (718) 965-9177 Cover: $10 www.barbesbrooklyn.com
July 22 & 29. Alegrías en La Nacional. (on the 29th we'll have our Mahattan CD release party) Gazpacho Andalú will be performing two shows at 8:30 and 11:00 PM 239 W. 14th Street New York, NY 10011 (between 7th and 8th Avenues) Tl: (917) 667-2695 Cover: $15 www.alegrias.com
July 23. Heckscher Park, Huntington's Summer Arts Festival. 8:30 PM Huntington, Long Island, New York. Gazpacho Andalú will be fitured as part of a show by the Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company. For more information log on: www.solysombra.org or www.huntingtonarts.org
July 20th. Xicala wine and tapas bar at 9:00 PM. Located at 151 Elizabeth Street (between Broome and Kenmare) There will be playing as a quartet with Arturo Martinez, guitar; Alfonso Cid, vocals and< flute; Gary Raheb, cuban cuatro and oud and Sean Kupisz, electric bass and cajon. For more information call (212) 219 0599 or log on www.xicala.com
May 2006
May 2. Savoy. A wonderful restaurant of american traditional and Mediterranean cuisines. 6:00 PM 70 Prince St., New York, NY 10012 (between Crosby and Lafayette Streets) Tl: (212)219-8570 http://savoynyc.com/
April 2006
Every Wednesday from April 5 at 8:00 PM in Tagine Moroccan restaurant. 537 9th Avenue at 40th Street.
Tl: (212) 564 7292 We'll be performing there as a trio with a dancer and just flamenco music every other week. Come and enjoy our music savoring wonderful Moroccan food.
April 26. Theater for the New City. Gazpacho Andalú will be opening the The Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. 5:30 PM 155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) New York, NY 10003 Tl: (212) 254-1109 This is a free event. www.theaterforthenewcity.net
April 21. Alwan for the arts. Opening Gala for the Alwan New York Arabic Film Festival. 8:00 PM 16 Beaver Street, 4th floor, New York, New York 10004 Tl: (212) 967-4318 www.alwanforthearts.org
April 18. Claremont Preparatory School. Private event.
April 10. Le Rendez-vous. Restaurant of Mediterranian cuisin. 9:30 PM 739 8th Avenue (between 46th and 47th Streets) Tl: (212) 265-2233 Cover: $15 dinner & show, $10 bar (two drinks minimum) & show. Reservations recommended.
March 2006
March 24, 25 and 26 at La Mama Experimental Theater Club.
The Club. 74A East 4th Street (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) NY , NY 10003 TL: (212) 475 7710
Friday and Saturday at 10:00 PM. Sunday at 5:30 PM
Tickets $15
on-line tickets available at www.lamama.org
November 2005
Thursday November 3rd, 10:00 PM at Satalla. 37 West 26th Street, New York. (Between 6th Avenue and Broadway). There is a 15$ cover charge for this event. For reservations: (212) 576-1155. www.satalla.com
Flamenco from the Old and New Worlds by Angel
Romero for
World Music
Central.
Flamenco de vuelta e ida (Gazpacho Andalú, 2006)
New York-based band Gazpacho Andalú surprises with its fiery delivery of Nuevo
Flamenco. This is not the new agey stuff that many times is passed off as
Flamenco in the United States. Instead, Gazpacho Andalú is led by
singer-songwriter Alfonso Cid, a Spaniard from Andalusia, which gives the music
authenticity. Cid provides the vocals, as well as flute, palmas (handclaps) and
cajón. The rest of the of the group is formed by Arturo Martínez on flamenco
guitar; Gary Raheb, Cuban cuatro guitar, bass and electric guitar; Tony de Vivo
on drum kit, percussion and vocals; Jainardo Batista on cajón, small percussion
and vocals; and Sean Kupisz, bass and cajón.
Gazpacho Andalú plays
various Flamenco forms such as tangos, rumbas, tanguillos and bulerías. One
could find similarities with the music of Ketama, Radio Tarifa and Son de la
Frontera, with the addition of the multicultural urban sounds found in New York.
"The title of this album is a game of words," says Alfonso Cid. "It comes
from the term "Cantes de ida y vuelta" or songs of round trip, these are a set
of traditional Flamenco songs that were influenced by the music that Flamenco
artists heard when they traveled to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. In the
late 19th Century styles such as Tangos, Rumbas, Guajiras, Milongas,
Colombianas, Vidalitas were incorporated into the Flamenco repertoire. Since
Gazpacho Andalú is based in New York City, we reversed the term and created a
new and meaningless term to title our album: "Flamenco de vuelta e
ida".
As to the name of the group, Cid says: "Gazpacho is a cold soup
made of tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, garlic, olive oil, salt, bread and
sherry vinegar, a wonderful summer dish that comes from Andalusia in southern
Spain. It is this fresh blend of ingredients which includes produce from the New
and Old worlds what gives us inspiration for our creative process."
Alfonso Cid y su Gazpacho Musical.
Alexandra Castaño para el Latin Week NY. 10 de Enero de 2008.
“Aquella aguantaita que sin motivo, que me diste allá en el parque, a mí en el alma, a mi en el alma a mí me duele, aunque no mi propia carne”, así reza una de las composiciones del joven cantante flamenco Alfonso Cid que es puro sentimiento de las tierras de Sevilla de donde este artista es oriundo.
Para él el flamenco proviene de la sangre misma escuchando siempre a su madre cantar mientras hacía los quehaceres del hogar. “Cuando era pequeñito escuchaba flamenco todo el día en casa, mi madre lo cantaba y lo sigue cantando. Mi abuelo era muy aficionado al flamenco también”, relata el artista. Su gusto por la música proviene de la herencia de su propia cultura y de sus vivencias. Según él el aprendizaje de este género musical, su investigación y el amor que siente por él empezó a partir de los dieciséis años en Sevilla. “Conocí a un amigo que es muy aficionado al flamenco y su padre era el presidente de una peña flamenca”, dice al cantante. Según él, en España, especialmente en Andalucía existe lo que se llama la peña flamenca, especie de club social en donde la gente se reúne para escuchar el flamenco, allí fue donde Alfonso practicó por primera vez su musicalidad innata con sus amigos en aquellas tertulias musicales.
Aunque nunca estudió canto como tal, Alfonso se internó en la esencia de arte flamenco, para él fue algo natural que él fuera absorbiéndolo como en un proceso de ósmosis, de afuera de Andalucía hacia adentro. Cid nunca habría pensado en dedicarse al flamenco, él se había concentrado en la flauta traversa la cual estudió formalmente en el conservatorio de Sevilla, sin embargo se enamoró del flamenco y lo empezó a cantar profesionalmente, entonces cantaba bulerías, fandango, soleare, alegrías, tonadas, seguidilla, malagueñas entre muchos otros ritmos.
Según el artista, el flamenco posee muchos estilos, es una cultura muy extensa y es por eso que hay muchísimo que aprender. Cid se dedicaba más que todo a los cantos festeros o de fiesta y más adelante con el desarrollo de un movimiento el cual estaba fusionando el flamenco con otras músicas decidió dedicarse a la flauta. Fueron cinco años de estudio que lo llevaron por fuera del conservatorio a interesarse por la salsa, la música caribeña, la brasileña y el jazz.
Según Cid actualmente existe muchos elementos del jazz que se han filtrado en la música flamenca y se hacen arreglos escritos para otros instrumentos además de la guitarra y el cantaor, entre ellos la flauta, el bajo eléctrico, contrabajo, y algo muy importante es que se hacen solos igual que en el flamenco, con progresiones armónicas. “Hay mucha fusión desde que España se empezó a abrir al mundo después de la muerte de Franco y comenzó a interesarse por otros tipo de música y otras corrientes culturales”, afirma.
En la “capital del mundo”
La transición de Cid a Nueva York fue posible gracias al amor, siguiendo a la que actualmente es su esposa. Su actividad musical comenzó internándose en el ambiente flamenco de la “capital del mundo”, en donde todo puede suceder. Cid empezó a visitar los bares, los centros culturales mayormente conocidos en la Ciudad como “venues” que tenían programas flamencos y comenzó a darse a conocer sentándose con los músicos en los escenarios y cantando para ellos. De esta manera fue integrándose a su movida musical en Nueva York aprovechando también el hecho de que actualmente no existen muchos cantaores en la Ciudad. En manifestación del artista, Nueva York posee una tradición flamenca y aunque han existido exponentes de la misma desde la manifestación cantoril se ha visto más concentrada en los bailadores. “En Estados Unidos el flamenco significa más baile. Existen muchas bailadoras en general pero siempre hacen falta cantaores. Cuando me conocieron y supieron que vivía aquí me invitaron y comencé integrarme con la gente y desde allí empecé a moverme en la Ciudad”, manifiesta el joven cantaor.
De acuerdo con él, a pesar de que mucha gente critique a los Estados Unidos hay algo muy bueno y es que si las personas ven que tienes un talento ellos lo saben apreciar y te dan la oportunidad para demostrar lo que sabes hacer, en palabras de Cid “si tienes algo que ofrecer te empujan y te dicen venga, y te dan el medio idóneo para que tu puedas desarrollar lo que sabes hacer y debo agradecerle esto a Nueva York. Para mí es como un sueño hecho realidad poder dedicarme a lo que me gusta y amo”.
Alfonso Cid se considera como un cantaor “free lance” es decir que trabaja por su lado. “A partir de que me introduje en el ambiente del flamenco la gente me llama no trabajo con agente o manager, yo soy mi manager y semi-agente”, dice. Y es que Cid se ha hecho solo y con su talento ha cautivado al público de la Ciudad. Ha tenido la oportunidad de trabajar además de Nueva York, en Toronto, Washington, Filadelfia, Boston, San Francisco con diferentes artistas del flamenco como la bailadora mejicana Pilar Rioja con la que lleva ya casi 6 años de trabajo, Andrea del Conte en el Teatro Thalia en Queens, Nelida Tirado, entre muchos otros exponentes de la música flamenca.
Un Gazpacho Andalú
Con una trayectoria ya de 10 años en Nueva York, Cid ha tenido la oportunidad de reproducir su talento y ha construido lo que él ha llamado “Gazpacho Andalú” que como manifiesta el artista, es la oportunidad de sacar para afuera lo que le sale del corazón a la hora de crear música pues la música y la mayoría de las letras son de su autoría con la intervención del guitarrista del grupo Arturo quien han hecho los arreglos y la inclusión de letras del poeta Miguel Hernández, que según Cid es de de la misma generación de Lorca.
El grupo está conformado por Arturo Martínez, guitarrista; Gary Raheb, cuatro cubano y laúd árabe; Jainardo Batista y Toni de Vivo, percusión y coros; Sean Kupisz, bajo eléctrico, y Alfonso Cid, voz flamenca y flauta. “Gazpacho Andalú” es una fusión del flamenco con el jazz, música cubana, venezolana, árabe y como asegura Cid gazpacho es una mezcla del viejo mundo y del nuevo mundo y proviene del plato típico andaluz conformado por tomates y pimientos o chiles llevados de América, el nuevo mundo y de otros “condimentos” del viejo, Asia, Africa y Europa.
El nombre del grupo refleja la intención de mezclar desde el flamenco que es la base creativa, elementos de otras músicas que le añaden una paleta de colores y arreglos diferentes a las composiciones. “La banda refleja lo que es la historia de Nueva York desde la mezcla de culturas increíbles”, afirma. Para Cid, la misión de “Gazpacho Andalú” además de expresar su creatividad, su música y su poesía es la de enseñar al público que el flamenco no es solamente lo comercial y no es únicamente el baile es una cultura muy rica que tiene una poesía hermosa y su intención es dar a conocer a la gente que el flamenco es mucho más y que con él se pueden hacer cosas contemporáneas además de las tradicionales. “Yo crecí con ese flamenco tradicional sin embargo tuve otras influencias como el rock, el jazz, la salsa y el son cubano. Yo he crecido con otras músicas y todo esto se ve reflejado en lo que nosotros hacemos. Soy una persona del siglo 21 y quiero incorporar cosas nuevas”, expresa. Alfonso Cid es un amante del arte flamenco, en sus palabras “sin el flamenco me volvería loco pues es parte de mis raíces, de lo que soy y es lo que me mantiene en el suelo. Para mí es como una necesidad fisiológica, es la forma en la que me gano la vida y es lo que me gusta”, dice. La creatividad siempre lo acompaña y el arte es algo que sale de él naturalmente para plasmarse en las personas a través de su herramienta principal que es la voz y su gazpacho musical.
Si deseas saber algo más sobre Alfonso Cid y su Gazpacho Andalú puedes ingresar a la página www.gazpachoandalu.com o info@gazpachoandalu.com
Gazpacho the music is too cool but won't leave you cold. A review
of the new CD Flamenco de vuelta e ida that will leave you wanting more.
Gazpacho the soup is fantastic during these dog days of summer, it's cool and
refreshing. Gazpacho Andalu the Flamenco fusion music group is also refreshing
and extremely cool. A perfect blending of the musical pedigree of the members of
the group, Gazpacho Andalu is held together through the vocals and songwriting
of Alfonso Cid. The rest of the band is comprised of a veritable who's who of
the best in music that NYC has to offer. Just like the soup they are named for,
Gazpacho is a perfect blend of many styles of music, infused brilliantly in the
base of Flamenco style straight from the streets of Seville.
Most Americans have the misconception that Flamenco music is all about
romance. Gazpacho is here to show you that this passionate music is about LIFE.
One of the strongest of these excellently crafted tunes is Una joya de momento.
This is a love song for certain but it is a love song to a child, a sweet little
girl blowing bubbles and playing in the park. Here is true passion that only a
father can feel for his darling little girl.
Partake
in a sumptuous feast of the passions in life: joy, love, sorrow, anger,
jealousy. Gazpacho Andalu have perfected the recipe and you will not leave with
a hunger- unless you count a hunger for more music from this Flamenco-fusion
group.
Flamenco fusion perfection!
Comment by Flamenco fusion artist Stuart Waldner from Alma Gitana in Louisville, Kentucky.
As an aspiring flamenco fusion artist, I scour the web and catalogs for the latest in nuevo flamenco. I've never come across a CD from the states with much, if any, substance until now. This CD is a masterful recording made more impressive by the fact that it's a freshman project (at least I think it is). The lead vocals by Alfonso Cid are passionate yet controlled without being stilted or predictable. Arturo Martinez's guitar work is amazing, rootsy and some of the most flamenco of any guitar I've heard in the flamenco fusion genre. The rest of the musicians add a lot of depth to the recording. In every way, this CD is a joy to listen to and I come back to it time and again for inspiration. Highly recommended.
Excerpt from Madeleine L. Dale's review for
Attitude-The dancer's magazine.
Sol y Sombra Dance Company at Heckscher Park, Huntington's Summer Arts Festival, July 23 2006.
"But it was guest musical group Gazpacho Andalú that stole the show. Under the direction of singer and flautist, Alfonso Mogaburo Cid, and just out with their first CD, this band has developed its own Flamenco/Jazz style. Generally inward and quiet, guitarist Arturo Martínez, who played every number in the show, never wearied. In fact, he fairly burst with energy, embellishing Mr. Mogaburo Cid's original tunes. Gary Raheb's cuatro and oud gave the group the Moorish sound that helped define the musical orientation".
Review by La Gata for New York Flamenco Buzz.
Alegrías at La Nacional Flamenco Theatre
Presents: Gazpacho Andalú at its CD Release Party of
Flamenco de Vuelta e Ida, July 29, 2006
239 West 14th St., NYC.
Alfonso Cid, Cantaor Flamenco, Flute
Arturo Martínez, Flamenco Guitar
Jainardo Batista, Cante
Gary Raheb, Turkish Cǚmbrǚş, Cuban Cuatro
Toni de Vivo, Percussion
Sean Kupisz, Electric Bass
Barbara Martínez, Baile
with guest artists Maestro Jose Galván and Carmen La Salao
Hombre, I’m finding it hard to keep still as I write this
review. I just popped in Gazpacho Andalú’s Flamenco
de Vuelta e Ida, a mini-vacation in the style of Around the World in 80
Days but where the plane ticket reads “One-Way from Andalucia to
NY, with stops in North Africa and the Caribbean”.
Their music comes at you in layer after layer, much like the cold soup
they are named after, where the flavors are blended and the end result
is quite refreshing. I can hear each musician distinctly within
their own brand of seasoning. I think in pictures, and I see Don
Alfonso as a master gardener -- he takes each of their unique
sound/disciplines in seed form, plants them in the soil of flamenco and
prunes them accordingly, producing beautiful hybrids. Where
Alfonso Cid, Arturo Martinez, and Sean Kupisz form the bedrock, Barbara
Martinez is the hot-house orchid, Gary Raheb, Toni de Vivo and Jainardo
Batisto the lush, surrounding greenery. Although their music is
better enjoyed live, the CD is a wonderful introduction into that
world.
I’ll walk away from the garden now (in tangos
compás). Alfonso Cid began the night with a martinete a
capella addressed to a packed-to-the-rafters first set at
Alegrias. The group then proceeded to a tango de Malaga, based on
a poem by Samuel (HaLevi) Ha-Nagid, who was the Grand Vizier of Granada
after 1027 c.e., and of Sephardic Jewish origin.
Andalucía’s arabic name, Al-Andalus, was a region where
diverse cultures lived in harmony, and where each spoke each others
languages fluently. This is why seeing a live performance is so
necessary. You get an education and at the same time you enjoy
culture and tradition. Carmen La Salao (who was discovered as a
child by the great Carmen Amaya) was invited up to the stage, a
harissa-flavored accompaniment to Gary Raheb’s plucking of the
“banjo”, as Alfonso put it. Paul Fradin, who is the
producer of the upcoming Entresueños at Symphony Space, said
about her “wow, she’s spicy and she’s the real
thing. She continues to have a long and enduring career, and
Jorge Navarro once told me he coaxed her out of retirement. Next
time you think you’re tired in class and you’re over 30,
take a look at her, vale? The crowd went wild as she flirted and
sang to them, encouraging their attempts at palmas. I was jotting
down my notes on the previous number when my ears perked up and I was
looking on stage for an oud and saw yes, you guessed it, something that
looked like a banjo. What I recognized was the beginning phrase
of what I could identify as a zambra, except this sound was its
definite ancestor. By the time it got to Al-Andalus and hung out
in the gypsy quarters it was called that. Carmen responded in
kind, moving her hips and turning her wrists, belly-dance style.
I had an interesting conversation with Gary later that night as he was
relating where his roots proceeded from, musically as well as
personally. Imagine: >Syria, where his people stopped by
and picked up his other people on the
A beautiful surprise was in store for all that night. Jose
Galvan, the father of >Israel and Pastora Galvan, danced a visually
stunning Sevillanas with Carmen La Salao. They had everyone
gasping. They knew each other as children in >Spain, and you
could just feel the love and kinship between them as they danced.
Ahhh…..
I also spoke to Jainardo Batista, a Puerto Rican singer, who was doing
backup to Alfonso that night, including palmas. Understand,
readers, this is also a seasoned Cuban Son singer. I asked point
blank, “How were you able to tone down your salsa flavor and
accommodate your voice to flamenco compas?” What tumbao is
to salsa, compas is to flamenco. He told me “I dealt with
that too in the beginning, but Alfonso told me to just think in counts
of 6”. Jainardo’s musical schoolteachers were the old
Cuban masters of the 20s/30s/40s, noticeable in the unhurried timing of
his voice. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a hold of Tony de
Vivo, who plays a classy set congas/bongo on the CD and Sean
Kupisz. His electric bass playing is so rich, both live and on
the CD. The New York flamenco scene is indebted to Arturo
Martinez’ guitar playing and support of talent within the
city. I was interviewing a couple of the artists amidst the
cleaning up of the tables for the next set, and plus the musicians had
to rest in between. No matter, I know I will be seeing them time
and time again. They have gathered quite a following in New York,
and I predict a long trajectory is ahead.
This is what Tamara Turner from CD Baby had to say about our CD.
July 21st 2006.
If you have a taste for flamenco and your mouth waters at the thought of the heat and vivid color of Spain, this New York-based group, Gazpacho Andalú, will send fire through your spine and bring the blood to your skin with zesty performances, drawing not only from the fiery tradition of Spain, but also from the gut-moving music of North Africa and the bright textures of the Caribbean. You need look no further for passion, raw human expression and musical intensity that constantly pushes the envelope.
A Globe's Worth of Music, Stirred Into a Festive Jam.
By JON PARELES Published: May 23, 2005 © New York Times.
Watching musicians watch other musicians was part of the charm of the World Music Institute's 20th anniversary benefit concert on Saturday night at Town Hall. Two dozen musicians were gathered onstage, and as they played together they were clearly savoring one another's skills while taking mental notes.
The concert was a montage of what the World Music Institute has been doing since Robert and Helene Browning began presenting music at the Alternative Center for International Arts, an art gallery, in 1976. They started the nonprofit World Music Institute in 1985. Its concerts usually feature musicians working in a single tradition or related ones, but Saturday's show was more like a backstage jam at a world-music festival. After the institute's decades of presenting and preserving traditional music, for one night context could be traded for a Web-style surf through global virtuosity.
The Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain and the American percussionist Adam Rudolph were the music directors. They grouped international assortments of flutes, drums and strings. There was also a flamenco prelude (by the guitarist Arturo Martínez and his group, Gazpacho Andalú) and an all-comers finale.
The percussionists, all playing hand drums, were the flashiest performers. Mr. Hussain made his tablas patter and swoop and ring; Mr. Rudolph sat on a boxlike instrument and transformed a simple waltz into something far more complex. Abbos Kosimov, from Uzbekistan, played the tambourinelike doira with hyperspeed syncopations; then two doiras together, then three. Giovanni Hidalgo, a Puerto Rican salsa mainstay, juggled tones and rhythms on five tightly tuned conga drums that became a dynamo.
Brahim Fribgane, from Morocco, played skittering rhythms on dumbek; Dende, from Brazil, merged a strutting beat and annuciatory salvos on a single drum; and John Joe Kelly, an Englishman with Irish roots, made his bodhran clatter with quick dance beats and sliding tones.
The flutists included Brian Finnegan from Northern Ireland, who brought jazz flutter-tonguing to fierce Irish melodies; Bailo Bah from Guinea, playing in the Fulani style that uses huffing, whooping and singing through the tambin (wooden flute) to make every phrase assertive, along with Sylvain Leroux on a second tambin; and Steve Gorn, playing curvaceous lines on an Indian bansuri.
The string players were more introspective. Ustad Sultan Khan on sarangi, a bowed instrument with sympathetic strings, created songful raga phrases, then accelerated along with Mr. Hussain's tabla. Simon Shaheen on oud and Ali Jihad Racy on saz, a long-necked lute that sounds something like a banjo, shared Middle Eastern melodies: Mr. Shaheen with insistent, dramatic tremolos, Mr. Racy with more pensive, conversational phrases. Mr. Racy also shook the hall with a solo on mijwiz, a two-pipe, double-reed flute that blared overlapping, echoing lines. For her solos on the pipa, a Chinese lute, Min Xiao-Fen played and sang pieces that interspersed Monk and Ellington tunes with Chinese melodies - more novelty than fusion.
The finale, with percussionists meshed below a melodic free-for-all, wasn't quite the Tower of Babel. But by counterexample, it suggested the value of presenting traditional music unmingled, as the World Music Institute has been doing for 20 years.
Taken from the © New York Times.
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