CSMA is excited to welcome back renowned guitarist Juanito Pascual for a special night of flamenco music on Saturday, Oct. 21, in Tateuchi Hall.
Hailed as “one of the hottest flamenco guitarists in recent years” by National Public Radio. Pascual and his trio will feature new compositions from their forthcoming 2024 album as well as new arrangements of selections from his debut release “Cosas en Común,” in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary. The flamenco guitarist will be joined by bassist Brad Barrett and percussionist/vocalist Jose Moreno.
Pascual grew up in an environment where music was always meaningful. Drawn to music at an early age, he says there is an intangible element to his love of flamenco music that captivated him the first time he heard it.
“As a guitar style, it is absolutely engaging for its rhythm, technical richness and virtuosity,” Pascual said. “It often sounds like there are two or three people playing at once, due to the incorporation of taps on the body and strumming techniques continually interspersed with melody and bass lines. The mood of the music is very particular and mesmerizing due in part to the types of scales and modes used, consisting of a great variety of speeds used from very slow and hypnotic, to very exuberant and up-tempo at times. There is such an emphasis on creativity and spontaneity, which resonated with me from the beginning.”
The Minnesota native is recognized in both Spain and the United States as a unique and creative flamenco and jazz performer. He has also been featured in special events including concerts hosted by Jane Goodall in Panama, on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion and as a guest on National Public Radio’s “The World” program among other television and radio programs, according to his website.
Wondering what to expect from the show? Other than an engaging performance, the audience can expect a true jam session between artists. He told CSMA:
“The Juanito Pascual Trio covers a pretty wide spectrum from more traditional solo guitar to pieces that feature a lot of improvisation and interaction between the players,” he said. “The common thread in all of the repertoire is the use of flamenco rhythms, but from there it’s quite a variety.”
He added that some of the pieces range from more traditional flamenco to arrangements of rock and jazz pieces. Given the improvisational nature of a lot of the trio’s repertoire, no two shows are ever the same, he shared.
What’s his advice for aspiring musicians? Be willing to explore and embrace the journey.
“I believe music is best when there is a combination of technique, rhythmic vitality and emotional depth,” he said. “In that way, the path of being a musician offers the opportunity to explore many facets of yourself, culture and society as you dig into the genres you like, discovering new music in the process and experiencing how people are affected by your music. Enjoy the journey.”
See one of his performance’s below.
By TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton
