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Juanito Pascual

"One of the hottest flamenco guitarists to emerge in recent years"

— National Public Radio

"Juanito's passionate original compositions make him [the flamenco guitar world's] rising star"

— Boston Magazine, The Hot List

The Jonathan "Juanito" Pascual Quartet is a versatile and dynamic flamenco ensemble led by the distinguished guitarist Jonathan "Juanito" Pascual. This compact ensemble presents all of the passion and artistry that has earned flamenco its rightful place as a major international art form. In addition to Pascual's guitar, the ensemble features all of the essential components of traditional flamenco performance, namely the dance and flamenco vocals, as well as flamenco percussion. The Quartet's performances feature Pascual's stunning playing and compositions. This lineup treats the audience to a complete flamenco experience, with pieces that feature each of these key elements in solo as well as ensemble format. Audiences will be transported to the south of Spain as they take in the beauty and excitement of the guitar and percussion, the emotional and haunting melodies of the singing, and the breathtaking footwork of the dancer. Each member of the group brings years of experience performing flamenco as well as many other styles of music and dance, adding richness, depth, and a personal touch to this outstanding ensemble. The combined artistry and chemistry of the four performers is sure to have audiences tapping their toes and dancing their way out of the theater after every performance.

Performance length up to 90 minutes with ten-minute intermission.

Biography

Jonathan "Juanito" Pascual has been called " one of the greatest American flamenco guitarists." He is a multifaceted guitarist, composer, and teacher who has performed in styles ranging from jazz and blues, to classical guitar, klezmer, as well as flamenco. Based in Boston, Juanito tours frequently throughout the U.S. and has played for most of the country's major flamenco dance companies including those of Omayra Amaya, Ramon de los Reyes, Jose Greco II, Carlota Santana, La Repompa de Malaga, Ines Arrubla, and Susana di Palma. He has performed in major festivals around the country including Tanglewood Jazz Festival, Albuquerque's Festival Flamenco Internacional, Yale's International Festival of Arts and Ideas, and New York City's Fringe Festival. Juanito has performed as a soloist in venues including Boston's Museum of Fine Arts as a featured artist in their Art of the Guitar concert series in 2000, Boston's Jordan Hall, as well as the Boston area radio stations WERS and WMBR. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory where he graduated with honors in 1997 and was Second Prize winner in the 1996 New England Classical Guitar Competition.

Juanito first picked up the guitar at age eleven, discovering flamenco music at age fifteen. This led him to Spain the following year where he was immersed in the flamenco culture, studying with teachers including Adam del Monte, Parilla de Jerez, Manolo Sanlucar, and El Entri. While at NEC, Juantio's teachers included classical guitarists David Leisner and Eliot Fisk and jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini. Most recently, the Boston based maestro Dimitri Goryachev has mentored Juanito.

In addition to a busy performance schedule, Juanito is very active as an educator, both as private instructor in the Boston area, as well as lecturer/performer giving frequent presentations and workshops at colleges and schools throughout the country. He is devoted to the pursuit of guitar as a means to revel each individual's unique musical and personal potential, and to sharing the beauty, spirituality, and expressive power of the art of flamenco.

Juanito's first CD "Cosas en Comun," of all original flamenco compositions, received critical acclaim and frequent radio play in the U.S. and abroad. Recent collaborations include: a multimedia production with music by composer Shirish Korde; a guitar concerto with composer Lior Navok; and a chamber opera by Osvoldo Golijov which premiered in 2003 at Tanglewood, with performances in the 2003-4 season at Lincoln Center and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Juanito also co-composed and performed his first film score, an animated short film about Southern Spain.

Special Guest Performers

Juanito's ensemble may include the spectacular talents of these notables:

Fernando de Malaga (Vocals) learned the difficult art of flamenco singing (cante flamenco) in the cafes, festivals, and concert halls of his native Malaga, Spain. He has toured in both North and South America with major groups including Pilar Cun~a Flamenco Dance Company, The Ramon de los Reyes Spanish Dance Company, as well as the companies of Omayra Amaya, Rosa Montoya, and Manolo Vargas. Fernando has been lauded by the Boston Globe for his "robust and passionate singing" and is a favorite of flamenco audiences around the country.

Sara Erde (Dance), a native of Brooklyn, New York, is a versatile and gifted performer and choreographer with an extensive background instructing students of all ages and levels throughout the U.S. Beginning her study of flamenco dance at age six at the Ballet Hispanico of New York, her interest and ability eventually led her to Seville, Spain where she studied intensively with Juana Amaya and eventually formed her own company, Abolengo, which went on to perform in Seville and New York City. She has performed as principal dancer for numerous flamenco groups including Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo, Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco, and as a soloist in the well-known tablao Los Gallos, in Seville. Sara has performed as soloist with the Metropolitan Opera in La Traviatta, and with the Washington D.C. Opera in productions of Carmen and Don Giovanni.

Gonzalo Grau (percussion) comes from a strong musical legacy in Caracas, Venezuela. He is an extraordinarily versatile musician/composer/arranger/band leader whose talents and accomplishments include over twenty years of cello study and performance experience, a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Berklee College of Music, and participation in over thirty-five CDs including such musical styles as latin jazz, Venezuelan folk music, flamenco, salsa, and boroque. Gonzalo has quickly become the percussionist of choice for major flamenco artists including Omayra Amaya, Pedro Cortes, Susana di Palma's Zorongo Flamenco Dance Company, La Conja, and many others. Recent performances include numerous tours with these flamenco artists, as well as performances in Boston's Symphony Hall, Chicago's Ravinia Festival and in Stuttgart, Germany as part of Osvoldo Golijov's St. Marcs Passion. Gonzalo leads, writes, and arranges music for La Timba Loca, a 13-piece salsa band, which traveled extensively in the Carribean and South America. Other projects include the groups Jaleo, Mango Blue, and Mangito.

Selected Performance Venues

• Tanglewood Jazz Festival, Ozawa Hall, MA, 2003
• The Carriage House Theater, Providence, RI, 2003
• Northampton Center for the Arts, MA, 2003
• Boston Center for the Arts, MA, 2003
• The Southern Theater, Minneapolis, MN, 2002
• Smithsonian Institution, Baird Auditorium, Washington, D.C., 2001
• New York City Fringe Festival, The University Settlement, 2001
• Museum of Fine Arts, "Art of the Guitar" Concert Series, Boston, MA, 2000
• Emerson Majestic Theater, Boston, MA 2000
• One World Theatre, Austin, TX, 2000
• Festival Flamenco Internacional, Rodey Theater, Albuquerque, NM, 1999
• Jordan Hall, Boston, MA, 1997
• Wallace Stevens Theater, Hartford, CT, 1997
• Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA, 1996

To book Juanito Pascual for your event just call us at (617) 492-1515, or use our online contact form.