Raphael Brunn
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
PUERTAS ABIERTAS, the beautifully designed first CD of Raphael Brunn is wonderful. The open doors of the title are an invitation to visit past, present and future.
Alegria a mi Padre (Joy to my Father) starts with a door opening. Someone walks in. The rhythm starts and steals the attention.
For those who have seen Raphael’s father in action—Francis Brunn, the greatest juggler in the world—the minimalist intro vividly evocates the amazing moves which composed Francis’s act.
Then guitar and song take us to the present, for an amazing display of the talent of Raphael Brunn and his Flamenco Quintet. Bulerias, Rumbas, Taranta or Tango, whatever you’re listening to, you’ll be on the edge of your seat! There are no repetitions, no imitations here. With all original compositions, his style is uniquely his own.
PUERTAS ABIERTAS will surprise you, intrigue you, inspire you and delight you. El duende, the ephemeral form of artistic grace—so difficult for the poet to describe, so rare for the performer to possess—appears not once but several times in the core of songs and compositions.
When Raphael concludes with Dejando Huellas (Leaving Fingerprints), he offers an irresistible march, joyful and breathless, a walk toward tomorrow... And it ends with laughter, which leaves you with a smile.
In his first CD, Raphael Brunn leads his Flamenco Quintet with the soul of an accomplished Maestro and the grace of a tightrope walker. The music pulls you in. When the CD ends, I challenge you not to listen to it again!
Un abrazo a todos!
Philippe Petit
High Wire Artist
- Philippe Petit - High Wire Artist
Bio for Raphael Brunn
Raphael Brunn, Flamenco guitarist and composer, was born December 19th, 1973 in Hackensack New Jersey to a well-known family of jugglers, dancers and trapeze artists. An American kid with lots of rhythm, Raphael started playing bass guitar at the age of ten. At fourteen, Raphael moved to Europe to join his father, a world renowned juggler and acrobat who had been using live Flamenco music in his performances since seeing Antonio Ruiz and Carmen Amaya dance in the 1950’s.
From a young age, Raphael was exposed to some of Spain’s finest Flamenco artists including El Manzanita, El Recortao, Pepe Marquez, El Carrete and many more.
His public debut playing Flamenco guitar was in the opening festivities of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Since then, Raphael has performed with many of the artists who initially inspired his dedication to the Flamenco tradition. In 2001 and 2003 he worked with El Farruquito and El Torombo in the Flamenco production of Incognito, in Frankfurt, Germany. Now based in New York City, Raphael performs regularly with his own Flamenco Quintet including Oscar Vallero (dancing and percussion); Sean Kupisz (electric bass); Duane Eubanks (trumpet); Karel Ruzika (saxophone) and various singers (Mariano Manzella and Alfonso Cid). He has recently released his debut album, “Puertas Abiertas”, available at www.raphaelbrunn.com.
- Lara Brunn
Discography
Debut Album Puertas Abiertas
Photos
Bio
Raphael Brunn, flamenco guitarist and composer.
With 19 years of experience under his fingers, honing his skills and performing with some of Spain’s finest musicians and dancers on stage and in tablaos, Raphael has chosen New York as his base to launch his album and break out of the traditional Flamenco mould. While remaining firmly within the flamenco tradition (virtuosic right hand technique on the guitar, percussive foot work, raw voice and always, strong compas--rhythm), Raphael Brunn’s music will surprise and please listeners across different genres, pulling the ears of not only flamencos, but jazz, rock and blues aficionados alike.
For instance, by including jazz trumpet in the mix and distortion on the bass, Raphael manages to give us flamenco with a jazz, rock twist.
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