
Flamenco Latino
New York, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1980 | SELF
Music
Press
A quarter of a century ago, a singularly imaginative show established
Flamenco Latino firmly as the New York flamenco company with true Big Apple style and flare for innovation. The conceit of that show was a Latin night club—and it was salsa hot! The company’s latest effort—an August 2020 outdoor presentation at JPAC, viewable on YouTube—sizzles. True to pure flamenco, this troupe, under the masterful creative direction of Aurora Reyes (dancer and vocalist) and Basilio Georges (guitarist and vocalist), here give the sevillanas (with
Natalia Starkova and Ra Ruíz) a Cuban inflection while a soleá por bulerías goes St. James Infirmary. For delicious and surprising good picante measure, the program draws on Thelonius Monk, tap dance (Omar Edward), and the blues to expose flamenco’s improvisational foundation and emotional core. - Madeleine L. Dale Associate Editor, Attitude: The Dancers’ Magazine
Flamenco Latino, what an amazing moment at the Jamaica Downtown Jazz Festival a week ago. Listening to Basilio Georges playing those fascinating Flamenco songs along with his wonderful Ensemble!! - Henry M. Soto FaceBook Post 7.25.19 with photos
Flamenco Gumbo II at the Flamenco Latino Studio Theater is an intimate evening of Flamenco and Tap with New Orleans flavor.
Some purists don't like Flamenco fusions, but this seemed the perfect accent to a warm July night.
Basilio Georges' Flamenco guitar set the tone for beats by drummer Guillermo Barron and the feet of Tap dancer Omar Edwards, and Flamenco artists Aurora Reyes and Jose Moreno. Those beats must be the sounds of stars cooking in the distant heavens.
And boy can Aurora sing. She has an amazingly bright and youthful voice that rolls the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. - NY Latin Culture
“La Rumba Cubana y Flamenca After 150 Years” reveals the organic connection that exists between Latin rhythms such as la Rumba Cubana and Flamenco.
... this original show expands the boundaries of flamenco. Flamenco Latino launches a creation of new flamenco forms, as much in the singing as well as in the dancing.
An unforgettable piece in the second part of the show was the “Sevillanas Afro-Cubanas.” This work is a smart musical and choreographic fusion. Aurora and Basilio succeed in creating a new form, where one doesn’t feel a separation between flamenco and Afro-Cuban movement. Both methods of expression are harmoniously tied together. - About.com
In financial circles there is a reassertion of influence from Spain laughingly called the "reconquista." Perhaps the shoe is on the other foot in the matter of Flamenco Latino...
... Eclectisicism, in short, is part the outlook of Flamenco Latino...
The ensemble and its directors, Aurora Reyes and Basilio Georges, have embarked into uncharted territory with all the dangers - and rewards - that implies. - The Denver Post
Combining Spanish flamenco with Latin American music and dance, Flamenco Latino mixed and matched styles with flair...
... the repertory ranged from the sinuous to the lusty and kept hips swiveling and feet stamping. - The New York Times
Discography
Retrospectiva Vol. 1: It's About Damn Time, Basilio Georges, Nueva Frontera NF006CD, 2014. Mastered Solo and Group Flamenco and Salsa Tracks made from 1981-2009, most recorded at live performances. Available at CDBaby.com, iTunes.com, and on many streaming services such as Spotify.
Cante Flamenco en Nueva York, Luis Vargas, Nueva Frontera NF007CD, 2015. Live recordings made during 200x and 2007 with Basilio Georges on guitar. Available at CDBaby.com, iTunes.com, and on many streaming services such as Spotify.
Acabo de Empezar (Just Gettin' Started), to be released Summer 2022 on Nueva Frontera. Flamenco Jazz and Latin. Four mp3 excerpts are on this site: "Who Dem Palmeros," "Sevillanas Afro Cubanas," "Mi Santa," and "Summertime." It will be available at CDBaby.com, iTunes.com, and on many streaming services such as Spotify.Photos



Bio
Flamenco Latino offers a unique combination of flamenco with flavors of jazz, blues, and salsa. The quartet is lead by Basilio Georges, guitar/singer, with Aurora Reyes, singer/dancer/castanets/palmas (handclaps), Danny Rivera, baritone saxophone, and Hamed Traore, cajón/bass. Sets feature original music with songs in Spanish and English, as well as a few original arrangements of covers. Flamenco Latino has years of experience performing traditional flamenco tablao style with additional dancers, and can satisfy restaurant or party requests for rumba flamenca and Gipsy Kings. (All photos in the gallery by Eric Bandiero.)
Band Members
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