Barbara Martinez

Artist Information

Biography

“Something fresh” –New York Times

On February 27, 2010 Barbara Martinez did a solo concert in the Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, presented by World Krystal Productions. As part of a vocalist series she sang and danced in a program of old and new flamenco, infused with Latin and jazz, performing to a sold out house accompanied by guitarist Pedro Cortes, percussionist/dancer Jose Moreno and bassist Sean Kupisz.

Barbara, who has a long and rich experience with music and theater since childhood, has spent recent years focusing on flamenco cante in all its forms, from the cante jondo to the more popular contemporary styles of rumba and bulerias. She excited to be working on a solo project, leading a group of talented musicians from all over the world in an eclectic new repertoire that includes flamenco, Brazilian, jazz and funk. She is preparing a debut album with some of these songs, as well as originals. Barbara performs can be seen in various weekly venues in New York City.

Born in Venezuela to a family of artists, Barbara grew up in New York City, where she started performing in opera, off-Broadway and film at age 10. She currently sings with Pasion y Arte Flamenco Company, Andrea del Conte Danza Espana, Arts Flamenco, Edwin Aparicio Flamenco Company, Spirit of Sepharad and dances with The Oscar Valero Company and Spirit of Sepharad. She also sings for Pilar Rioja at El Repertorio Espanol and danced as a soloist in festivals at Lincoln Center, Town Hall and Symphony Space, and danced in several productions of La Traviata and Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera. She is very excited to be taking her own flamenco fusion group to Carnegie Hall on Saturday, February 27, 2010.

Barbara can be heard singing in Arabic, Ladino and Persian in Spirit of Sepharad/Caravan with Gerard Edery and acclaimed musicians Glen Velez and Ara Djinkan, among others. She can also be seen with Plural, the creation of Venezuelan Grammy-nominated composer Gonzalo Grau, with solo flamenco guitarist Juanito Pascual (and on his latest CD), and with the Alex Conde Quintet. Barbara is also a founding member of Fortvna Productions, which has staged a trilogy of musical plays by Amelia Arenas: Hell, Confessions and Dreams based on the writings of Dante Alighieri, St. Augustine and Sigmund Freud.

She can be heard singing in Arabic, Ladino and Persian in Spirit of Sepharad/Caravan with Gerard Edery and acclaimed musicians Glen Velez and Ara Djinkan, among others. She can also be seen with Plural, the creation of Venezuelan Grammy-nominated composer Gonzalo Grau, with solo flamenco guitarist Juanito Pascual (and oon his latest CD), and with the Alex Conde Quintet. Bárbara is also a founding member of Fortvna Productions, which has staged a trilogy of musical plays by Amelia Arenas: Hell, Confessions and Dreams based on the writings of Dante Alighieri, St. Augustine and Sigmund Freud.

Barbara has had the pleasure of working with artists such as Marco de Ana, Triana Bautista, La Conja, Pedro Cortes, El Costi, Alfonso Cid, Ara Djinkan, Gonzalo Grau, Jayme Hadaad, Antonio Hidalgo, Carmen LaSalao, Luis Miguel Manzano, La Meira, Maria Montilla, Jose Moreno, Jorge Navarro, Raul Ortega, La Repompa, Nino de los Reyes, Ruben El Viejo, Pilar Rioja, Stan Strickland, Nelida Tirado, Grammy-winner flutist Dave Valentine, Luis Vargas and Glen Velez.

Barbara teaches music at Bank Street School for Children and recently had the honor of teaching master classes for The Cirque du Soleil and New England Conservatory. In 2008, Barbara received a scholarship from the famed Cristina Heeren Foundation in Seville, Spain for advanced study in flamenco singing. She has also studied jazz voice and theory with Barry Harris, acting at The New York Actor's Conservatory and early music education (Kodaly) at New York University. Barbara is an Honors graduate of Brown University. Barbara is an Honors graduate of Brown University (Class of 1998), where she doubled up on Comparative Literature and Visual Arts.

Instrumentation

Gonzalo Grau - keyboard, arrangements
Jose Moreno - Percussion and Guitar
Alex Alvear - Electric Bass
Juanito Pascual - Flamenco guitar

Discography

Recording debut album. Simultaneously releasing soon an album of live performances. Demo tracks on MySpace.com.

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• La Noche
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• Mi Querencia/My Love
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• Traditional Bulerias
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• Besos de Caramelo
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• Sevillanas Pink
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• Vanidad
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Flamenco That Finds Its Fit in a Space Between Two Styles
  

  Barbara Martinez, who sand and danced, made something fresh of the Latino style in several numbers.

• Fringe Reviews
  

  [Among] the extraordinary singers [were] the achingly beautiful flamenco sounds of Barbara Martinez.

• 99 Venezuelans of International Weight [+ Show ]
  

  [English translation] This venezuelan is considered one of the most important representatives of fl...[English translation]
  This venezuelan is considered one of the most important representatives of flamenco on a international level. She is currently in New York preparing a new show that she plans to bring soon to Venezuela.
  
  [original Spanish] La venezolana es considerada una de las más importantes representantes del flamenco a escala mundial. Desde Nueva York prepara un espectáculo que traerá pronto al país.
  

• A Night In Andalusia [+ Show ]
  

  The audience at Alegrias on Broadway consists mainly of groups of young couples at tables outfitted ...The audience at Alegrias on Broadway consists mainly of groups of young couples at tables outfitted with large pitchers of Sangria. They come to enjoy a party atmosphere and admire the advanced practitioners of the art of Flamenco. It's a compliment to the New York Center For Flamenco Performing Arts/ArtsFlamenco that many of the members of the audience have been repeat visitors over several years.
  
  On stage, Briseyda Zarate and Jose Moreno gave strong dance performances. Pedro Cortes on was equally impressive on guitar. While I enjoyed the dance, the high point for me was the vocalist Barbara Martinez. She is a charming presence on stage and her voice has the unmistakable timbre of youth - if Flamenco dance is about displaying passion, it's the vocalist who expresses the underlying longings. In that regard, Miss Martinez's chanting (or the Spanish "cante") has a mournful, seductive quality that gave the dancers grist for interpretation.
  
  My recommendation to any male readers who may want to put the 'zing back in your relationship: Take your lady friend to Alegrias on Broaday one Saturday night, enjoy a few glasses of Sangria, and sign her up for Flamenco lessons before you leave.

Setlist

Two to three sets of originals and original arrangements of popular flamenco and Latin classics. This program can showcase more dancing when and if the context/budget allows.

Basic Requirements

Calendar