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The sensual, emotional music of flamenco and Valentine’s Day have a natural synergistic resonance. Add Privateer Rum and shake. And so, flamenco guitarist Juanito Pascual and his fantastic musicians Brad Barrett on bass and Tupac Mantilla on percussion are on their way to perform at The Cabot at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14.  Flamenco dancer Nélida Tirado will join the group. The 1920 Jazz Age Cabot Theatre is located at 286 Cabot Street in Beverly, Massachusetts.

 Essex County’s own Privateer Rum is sponsoring the evening and providing specialty hand-crafted cocktails for purchase. What’s better than five-star music and superb libations?

“Since rum was the bedrock of New England’s early economy, root for the Pats with a bottle of this sippable, caramel-like Massachusetts rum. Made by a descendant of Andrew Cabot, a privateer during the American Revolution who used his fleet of agile ships to harass the British Navy (downright Welkerian), this is the stuff you’d expect the Patriots’ musket-firing mascots to drink.” – The Wall Street Journal

Tickets are on sale now at TheCabot.org or by calling 866-811-4111.

NPR’s Here & Now called Juanito Pascual “one of the hottest flamenco guitarists to emerge in recent years.”

 

Juanito Pascual

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Juanito Pascual’s New Flamenco Trio with the very, very fine New England Conservatory PhD Graduate, bassist Brad Barrett and the hot, hot Columbian drummer and percussionist Tupac Mantilla has a very busy tour schedule and a fabulous album, Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio. The band combines flamenco with jazz and world music, making for a steamy mix, especially for Valentine’s Day! Added to the show is the fabulous flamenco dancer, Nélida Tirado, who has been hailed as “magnificent” and “utterly compelling” by The New York Times. Tirado has been recognized around the globe for her intense grace and powerful style.

In March 2014, world-class flamenco/jazz acoustic guitarist Juanito Pascual released a stunning, landmark album. Titled simply: Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio, the release is a tour-de-force that combines Pascual’s finely-honed skills as a flamenco guitarist–he studied from the musicians on the streets of Madrid. Pascual also adopted flavors acquired along the way with jazz mentors such as Gene Bertoncini and classical guitar guru Eliot Fisk. This album is flamenco, but it also blends in a colorful mix of other musics–a little jazz, a little Latin and even a touch of soulful funk on one cut. In addition, Pascual has even included a special flamenco-tinged version of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio takes listeners on a magical journey between the lands of flamenco, the rainforest, Chicago and even India-speculated as a source of some of the rhythms and tonalities of early flamenco. Some of the tracks go so far as to mix soul with flamenco sounds-rhythms from other parts of the world morph inside the rhythms and the haunting scales of the flamenco tradition and here and there the harmonies go wild. Clapping, singing, whispering dreams meld together with the passion, the throbbing voice of anguish and lust all in one amazing musical celebration.

Born in Minneapolis in 1973, Pascual has gradually become a new voice in this most Spanish of musical genres; his signature virtuosity and warm, evocative playing, along with his original compositional style, have won him praise and admiration around the globe.

Pascual moved to Spain after high school and lived “on the streets” in order to get to study with the flamenco masters he idolized. Now, also a graduate of New England Conservatory, he regularly tours the United States and Europe and has been featured in such venues as the Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Tanglewood Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival and Madrid’s Casa Patas. He has been heard on PRI and the BBC’s The World; he also appeared in the 2009 film The Pink Panther alongside Steve Martin and Andy Garcia.

In 2009, Pascual released Language of the Heart, a CD which deeply celebrated the flamenco traditions, yet the music was simmered and caramelized by the amazing musical talents of a virtual Who’s Who of some of the biggest names in flamenco, jazz and world music. That stunning release featured two of the finest new flamenco singers on the scene, Elena Andujar (who was featured in The Devil’s Advocate and Flamenco Women) and Leo Triviño, virtuoso bassist John Patitucci (who’s performed with Chick Corea, B.B. King, Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock), one of the foremost world music and jazz percussionists in the United States, Jamey Haddad (who’s performed with Paul Simon and Paul Winter), noted cajón player Gonzalo Grau (the Grammy®-nominated leader of “La Clave Secreta”), electric bassist Sean Kupisz (who performed with Al di Meola) Spain’s star flamenco dancer Nino de los Reyes, pianist Alex Conde Carrasco, violinist Rohan Gregory, flutist Stan Strickland and percussionist Jerry Leake.

Juanito’s original music has touched audiences and musicians from across the musical spectrum. He has performed with Grammy®-winning artists including jazz pianists such as Michel Camilo and Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci,percussionist Jamey Haddad, renowned Middle-Eastern musician Omar Faruk Takbilek and Israeli cantor Emil Zrihan. He has worked with a long list of top flamenco musicians and dancers from Spain and the United States including Isaac and Nino de los Reyes, Raquel Heredia, Omayra Amaya, Ramon de los Reyes, Jose Greco II, Sara Erde, La Conja, Carlota Santana, La Repompa de Málaga, Inés Arrubla, Susana di Palma, Chuscales, Pedro Cortes, Roberto Catellón and Caminos Flamencos. Juanito also collaborated on the Grammy®-winning chamber opera Ainadamar by Osvoldo Golijov, which had its debut at Tanglewood in 2003 and featured soprano Dawn Upshaw.

Bassist Brad Barrett is a highly skilled musician who has performed virtually all genres of music. His musical stylings and high-level improvisational skills have landed him academic scholarships, tours and unique performance opportunities in many states as well as Europe and Asia. Brad has recorded with Ran Blake, Bob Moses, Jerry Leake and Hankus Netsky. He has also performed at the Panama Jazz Festival, Idlywild Jazz Festival and performed with a USO Tour of Asia as well as with a variety of Boston bands over the past 10 years.

Internationally acclaimed Grammy®-nominee percussionist/drummer Tupac Mantilla is one of the most versatile and creative upcoming artists of his generation. His work as a performer, educator, producer and clinician has been highly recognized worldwide and includes appearances at major jazz festivals including The Montreal Jazz Festival, The North Sea Jazz Festival, the Perugia Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, the Gent and Nice festivals and the renowned Newport Jazz Festival. He has appeared at Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center and presented programs at Harvard University and Stanford University. Mantilla has also presented percussion oriented workshops and conferences for prestigious multi-national companies around the world.