THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO PARTNERSHIP
FALL 2008
SITE UPDATES COMING SOON!
2008 DIEGO DE GASTOR
CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE
The Bay Area Flamenco Partnership celebrated the Centennial
with two sold-out concerts in February/March 2008 at
San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center and Carmel's Sunset Center
featuring BBC World Music Award recipients SON DE LA FRONTERA
direct from Moron de la Frontera, Spain
joined by JUAN DEL GASTOR who was in residence at UC Santa Cruz
during Winter Quarter 2008 as visiting Regents' Lecturer in Music.
Juan also offered two sold-out back-to-back concerts
in honor of his uncle at Berkeley's La Pena Cultural Center.
ABOUT DIEGO DEL GASTOR
Diego del Gastor (1908–1973) was one of the most influential flamenco guitarists of the 20th century and to this day his music continues to inspire flamenco artists and aficionados all over the world. He created a highly uniquely personal style of guitar playing characterized by strong rhythm and accents, understatement, savored notes, a subtle sense of humor and an emphasis on improvisation and the expression of genuine emotion.
Photo by Steve Kahn
Del Gastor was unparalleled in his accompaniment
of flamenco singing and was sought out by many of the great singers of his day such as Antonio Mairena, Juan Talega, Manolito de Mairena, Perrate and Joselero de Morón. The legendary singer Fernanda de Utrera put it this way: “Diego
and I were the most compatible team in all of
flamenco. Each one of us was in love with the other’s art. I was the strings of his guitar and he was the echo of my voice. No one has known how to pull out what I have inside of me like he has... ¡Viva Dios y viva Diego del Gastor!"
Photo by Bill Davidson
Diego del Gastor (1908–1973) was one of the most influential flamenco guitarists of the 20th century and to this day his music continues to inspire flamenco artists and aficionados all over the world. He created a highly uniquely personal style of guitar playing characterized by strong rhythm and accents, understatement, savored notes, a subtle sense of humor and an emphasis on improvisation and the expression of genuine emotion.
Photo by Steve Kahn
Del Gastor was unparalleled in his accompaniment
of flamenco singing and was sought out by many of the great singers of his day such as Antonio Mairena, Juan Talega, Manolito de Mairena, Perrate and Joselero de Morón. The legendary singer Fernanda de Utrera put it this way: “Diego
and I were the most compatible team in all of
flamenco. Each one of us was in love with the other’s art. I was the strings of his guitar and he was the echo of my voice. No one has known how to pull out what I have inside of me like he has... ¡Viva Dios y viva Diego del Gastor!"
Photo by Bill Davidson
DIEGO AND THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO SCENE
In the early 1960s, American flamenco scholar Don Pohren published The Art of Flamenco with extensive references to Diego and Gypsy flamenco. The book was a catalyst that inspired aficionados from all over the world, many of whom travelled to Morón to study with the maestro and witness the spontaneous fiestas at the fabled bar Casa Pepe, a gathering place for some of the most renowned flamenco artists of the day. Del Gastor’s impact on American guitarists --including many from Northern California such as David Serva, Benjamin Flores Graham, Kenny Parker. Chris Carnes and Daniel Staffler-- has given rise to several generations of flamenco artists here who through exposure to his music have gained an understanding of Gypsy flamenco free of theatrical stereotypes.
Photo by Steve Kahn
LINKS for further information
SF Chronicle article linking Bay area with Moron
Website Dedicated to Diego del Gastor
Flamenco Photography Project
Chris Carnes "Cristobal Dos Santos"
In the early 1960s, American flamenco scholar Don Pohren published The Art of Flamenco with extensive references to Diego and Gypsy flamenco. The book was a catalyst that inspired aficionados from all over the world, many of whom travelled to Morón to study with the maestro and witness the spontaneous fiestas at the fabled bar Casa Pepe, a gathering place for some of the most renowned flamenco artists of the day. Del Gastor’s impact on American guitarists --including many from Northern California such as David Serva, Benjamin Flores Graham, Kenny Parker. Chris Carnes and Daniel Staffler-- has given rise to several generations of flamenco artists here who through exposure to his music have gained an understanding of Gypsy flamenco free of theatrical stereotypes.
Photo by Steve Kahn
Del Gastor's musical genius was matched by his extraordinary charisma and elegance as well as his worldliness and generosity of spirit. He was a true bohemian artist and rejected most of the commercial opportunities that came his way, opting to remain in Morón with his arms open to the world, making it the epicenter of Gypsy flamenco during his lifetime.
LINKS for further information
SF Chronicle article linking Bay area with Moron
Website Dedicated to Diego del Gastor
Flamenco Photography Project
Chris Carnes "Cristobal Dos Santos"
