¡Olé! SFJAZZ goes Flamenco!

As a Spaniard I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome three pillars of the Flamenco world to our SFJAZZ Spring Season: guitarists Paco de Lucia and Vincente Amigo, and pianist Chano Dominguez. While it is true that jazz audiences may have some idea about this extraordinary art form, there aren't exactly a ton of opportunities to witness these artists in person stateside, let alone three of them in one season!

Once we learned all three of these legendary performers were slated to appear, we set out to create a special event for our SFJAZZ members that might give them some more insight into the artists' individual contributions to the Flamenco genre and also explore the melding of Flamenco with jazz. The result morphed into a fabulous combination of Listening Party with a juerga flamenca (jam session) that will take place Thursday, February 9th at 7pm at the Yerba Buena Center Forum. Joining us will be the fabulous Emmy-winning Bay Area ensemble Caminos Flamencos, and as SFJAZZ Director of Education I am thrilled to sit down with the group's musical director and guitarist, Jason McGuire, to discuss the music of the three featured artists. The audience will be treated to a special intimate performance of authentic Flamenco music and dance and have the opportunity to interact with Caminos Flamencos in a Q&A.

I can't overstate the significance of having Paco, Vicente and Chano in one performing season! If you can't get to Spain this year, you can certainly get a taste at any or all of these wonderful events.

- Rebeca Mauleón