Flamenco Caravan

Artist Information

Biography

Flamenco Caravan, while being true to flamenco forms, also blends the band members’ favourite musical influences of Latin, jazz, rock, sacred and blues, capturing the imagination of the soul through guitar, rhythm and song. Between lightning-speed guitar flourishes, melting vocals, and the entire band’s driving and grooving rhythms and electric chemistry, audience members of every age have been won over. The music has been described as "world-class", "beautiful and magical", "moving", "amazing in its variety" and "alternately soothing and stirring to the soul". The comment most often offered to the band after a performance is, "I couldn’t sit still! I just wanted to get up and dance!"

Formed in 1999, Flamenco Caravan has evolved to include Esteban Figueroa on lead guitar, Susanna DiGiuseppe on keyboards and vocals, Tony Agostino on rhythm guitar, Jim Differ on drums and percussion, and Greg McIntosh on bass. Often additional musicians on percussion, backing vocals, trumpet and other instruments add to the band’s full sound.

The group has opened for acts such as Colin James, Jeff Healey, Paul Shaffer and America, and their performances at the 2006 Owen Sound, Red Rock and Cambridge folk festivals garnered rave reviews and standing ovations.

In 2005, Flamenco Caravan recorded "Love’s Philosophy" and launched the CD on October 7th at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium to an 800+ audience. General Manager of the auditorium, Bob Halverson, commented: "That, in my mind, was one of the finest shows I’ve ever seen in that building. You expect someone on the international stage to be good, but when you find someone in Thunder Bay who is as good or better, that ices it for you."

Flamenco Caravan has been interviewed by CBC radio at the local and national levels. Its music has been successfully auditioned by the CBC (Toronto) and distributed to its libraries nationwide. In addition, "Love’s Philosophy" was named a top 13 CD pick of 2006 by CBC Radio Music Resources out of an estimated 800 other CD's submitted in 2006.


Flamenco Caravan is excited to be releasing its second CD entitled "Alchemy" in a concert at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on April 28, 2007. They also look forward to performing at the 2007 Ottawa Jazz Festival on June 27.

Look us up on Youtube.com under Flamenco Caravan to view some performances.

Instrumentation

Susanna DiGiuseppe - Main Vocals/Piano/Keyboard
Tony Agostino - Guitar
Esteban Figueroa - Guitar
Jim Differ - Drum Kit/Percussion
Greg McCIntosh - Bass

Discography

CD - Alchemy - Flamenco Caravan - 2007
CD - Love's Philosophy - FLamenco Caravan - 2005

Official Website

http://www.flamencocaravan.ca

Links

• Flamenco Caravan Official Website

Audio

• Aires De Cuba
  Listen  
• Bossa Chilena
  Listen  
• Lydia
  Listen  
• Musica Es Vida
  Listen  
• Quillota
  Listen  
• Moliendo Cafe
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Lydia

Video

Moliendo Cafe

Photo Gallery

Press

• Flamenco Caravan CD Release 2005 [+ Show ]
  

  Flamenco Caravan launched the release of their CD entitled "Love's Philosophy". Thunder Bay came out...Flamenco Caravan launched the release of their CD entitled "Love's Philosophy". Thunder Bay came out in droves to support their local talent...Flamenco Caravan. Family, friends, and Flamenco Caravan fans were present at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium CD launch party and what an evening it was! After entertaining everyone with their lively music for almost two hours, a standing ovation brought them back on stage for an extra song. Band members then joined their fans in the lobby for an autograph session

• TBCA marks 20 years of top acts [+ Show ]
  

  Release Date: Oct 26, Thunder Bay Community Auditorium general manager Bob Halvorsen has seen vi...Release Date: Oct 26,
  
  Thunder Bay Community Auditorium general manager Bob Halvorsen has seen virtually all the big name international superstars from Bob Hope to Tom Jones perform at the 1500-seat facility. But it’s a local group, Flamenco Caravan, that he raves about. “That, in my mind, was one of the finest shows I’ve ever seen in that building,” he said. “You expect someone on the international stage to be good but when you find someone in Thunder Bay who is as good or better, that ices it for you.” Halvorsen said only 900 patrons saw the Latin jazz band but he swears that anyone who was at the performance Oct. 7 will agree with his assessment. “When you have one of us rise to that level, I was proud of them,” he said. Just four days after the TBCA’s 20th anniversary on Oct. 16, Halvorsen discussed some the famous acts to grace the auditorium’s stage as well as the challenges facing the facility. Comedian Bob Hope was the opening act on Oct. 16, 1985 performing before a full house. One prominent person was missing that day. Mayor Walter Assef, a staunch opponent to the auditorium, said he would never enter the building and he never did. Following Hope, Halvorsen said Thunder Bay audiences were treated to stars from just about every segment of show business. Rudolph Nuryev was here and so was Bill Cosby. Gordon Lightfoot and Anne Murray delighted their fans with such hits as If You Could Read My Mind and Snowbird. George Carlin, Bob Newhart and Howie Mandel had them rolling in the aisles. Country fans came in droves to see Johnny Cash,Waylon Jennings, George Jones and the Queen of Country Music Loretta Lynn. The list goes on and Halvorsen was hard pressed to remember some of the other A-list entertainers. But he does know that the auditorium has averaged 100,000 patrons annually which roughly adds up to two million in 20 years based on about 150 events yearly. “We’re really trying to be cognizant of what people want rather than be arrogant and program what we want,” Halvorsen said. “We’ve really tried to make inroads in the community. We’re trying to uncover every last demographic.” Even punk rockers. Despite a recent incident where fans rushed the stage during a performance of The Used damaging seats in the front row, Halvorsen said similar groups will not be banned. “We’re not going to stop programming to this demographic,” he said. “We’ll let ticket sales determine what we’ll do.” Halvorsen said there have been five sold out punk rock shows this year. He said the auditorium has three positives in its favour, the first being that it’s a world class facility. “Everyone who has played here said this is one of the finest they’ve ever seen.” People attending performances at the auditorium have noticed the clarity of the sounds emanating from the stage. Halvorsen said that’s because the acoustics are as good or better as any other facility of this type. It’s geographic location in the middle of Canada is a big factor. “We’re becoming a destination rather than a drive-by or a fly-over,” he said. Probably the biggest plus is that the staff has been together 20 years. “Right from the box office to the technical department, these people know their business,” Halvorsen said. “The professional level of the staff is second to none in the industry.” Despite its successes over the years, the auditorium also faces financial challenges but Halvorsen is confident these can be met and overcome. “My hope is we’re doing enough at the service end that will justify the city continuing to support us,” he said. “As long as the bus is running, we want to make sure it’s full (of passengers),” Halvorsen said. “If it’s empty, you have to close down the route.”

Setlist

1st Set

Moliendo Cafe (4:00)
Dream to Go (3:50)
Love's Philosophy (4:30)
Camino Mallarauco (3:30)
Echoes (5:20)
Musica Es Vida (4:40)
Children of a new Day (5:10)
Don't you worry (4:30)
Quillota (3:30)
Spain (5:30)

2nd Set

Alegria (3:30)
Buleria (4:50)
Farewell to Baghdad (4:00)
Aires de Cuba (4:20)
Mi amore (4:00)
Grace (5:00)
Bossa Chilena (3:30)
Angels on the run (7:00)
Vermouth Bianco (4:40)

All songs, except Spain-by chick corea, are originals

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Flamenco Caravan Full Tech Rider

Calendar