Zamani Flamenco at The Upstage (Port Townsend)

Here's a "fun fact" about Port Townsend: "Local legend has it that Port Townsend was once a dumping ground for the indigenous people's insane and infirm. Many people (especially those involved in city politics) say this is rather fitting."

Well, the politics I can't speak to, but luckily for the Zamani Flamenco crew and I (and for Port Townsend, I suppose), this is evidently one tradition that hasn't been preserved with much vigilance in culture and entertainment circles. On our recent trek there, we found the Port Townsiends (Port Townies? Port Townsendites?) to be both quite sane and quite . . . um . . . "firm" . . . .

Right. Anyway--and much more importantly: a number of PTers were also keen on having a flamenco show in their midst. The venue that had us out (as a careful observer of embedded pictures might have already surmised) is called The Upstage and is arguably a central feature of Port Townsend's quite respectable local music scene. They have live music almost every night of the week and a truly superb performance space (right smack in the middle of the restaurant and surrounded by balconies on three sides).

Space and place aside, this show was a milestone for us: it was the first time, as a trio, that we've played a full two sets and been "the whole show." This was very cool, of course. But it also meant that we weren't going to get away with doing a sevillanas, a tangos, a bulerias and then heading off to The Two Bells (a.k.a. the Belltown Flamenco Hangout Extraordinaire (a.k.a. the BFHE)) for drinks. No, no--two sets means ninety minutes.

And ninety minutes of music meant a fundamental shift in the way we structured rehearsals leading up to this show. Instead of having the luxury of being able to go over eight bars of music thirty times (okay, fine: ten times) until we got just the nuance we wanted, we had to crash through arrangements enough to get the gist and then move on. One would think that the primary result of this would simply be a lack of polish, but, while some numbers still have some kinks to be worked out, what I noticed most of all was that the longer performance allowed us to get "into the groove" and really create an atmosphere of flamenco (as opposed to what had heretofore been more akin to a "spectacle" of flamenco among other types of dance and music).

And what's more, the two set mark has been met: we now have a full show worth of material, which means that now we can really get after a.) polishing and b.) building out our repertoire (though at a less insane rate). (Actually, I should say "a full show plus"--we hadn't quite factored banter time into the set lengths. This will be hard for you to believe, I know, but one of us--I'm not saying who--has a tendency to insert introductions, anecdotes, and other errata in between songs. Who knew?)

But Andy, you say, where are the videos? So much talk! So little Web 2.0. Yes, I admit it--guilty as charged. But you'll have to wait another day or two. Here's why: because we've a.) been building floors again and b.) have another show in two days. [Incidentally, c.) Andy appears to be into "x.)"--format lists today. And he's not entirely sure he can explain why.] Anyway, the upshot is this: I haven't yet had time to format and upload the Upstage vids. Soon, soon. [Further incidentals: d.) the newest floor {cf. "a.)" above} is of the portable variety. Never again will we be bested by carpeted stages!!]

In any case, why would you want some fuzzy, compressed videos when you could come see in-the-flesh flamenco at The Northside Grill this Thursday (July 24th)? We'll be doing a full show with (already!) some new material and guest vocals by Stephanie Hughes. Music will start at 8:30 and go on at least until 10:00. Check out www.zamaniflamenco.com for more details. And then check back here for a full and tangent-prone account of the evening.

And there you have it. Now go play!

And then come and see Zamani Flamenco at The Northside!

~A

Flamenco: The Saga Continues (or, "An Update from the Trenches")

Yes, yes--I can see it now: you've read this blog a time or two, found it mildly amusing, perhaps marginally insightful (in "what-not-to-dos" if nothing else), and have, recently, noticed blog posts getting further apart, taking on more of a frantic, even later night than before kind of air. I can even hear you say to yourself, ah, that Andy guy is running out of steam; he didn't have it in him to write about flamenco. But wait, dear reader! I must protest! Andy has simply been friggin' busy! And busy playing guitar at that!

And as this blog is all about how one gets busy playing guitar, here be the details: First (as you may or may not know), last weekend was the big bi-annual Peña Flamenca de Seattle show [videos to follow shortly]. This was my third such show and, as far as I'm personally concerned (and as one would hope these things would go), the best yet. By this I mean, for the most part, that I was actually able to relax a bit on stage and enjoy performing. (Egocentric, I know, but it is my blog, no?) For anyone who has read (or cares to delve back into) peña posts past, this relaxation thing is a new on-stage state of being for Andy. To recap, performing in front of people had simply made me edgy as hell. And it made my fingers stupid and recalcitrant.

This time around, however, I felt only the slightest twinges of either of these afflictions (i.e. digital stupidity and/or recalcitrance . . . and--for those of you keeping track--didn't even hit the flask until intermission!). I can only surmise that my recent spate of trio work at the Walrus Theater (where I found myself psychically nude on stage with a mere two dancers behind whom to hide) is the reasonable explanation for these newfound steely nerves of mine. This is not to say I was basking in confidence up there, but I am happy to report that I was able (for the most part) to quell the auto-destructive tendencies of my central nervous system and enjoy the moment.

And of course we all know that preparation for a two hour long peña show makes for a busy guitarist. But this is far from the end of the story. I've also been filling out sets for the Zamani Flamenco trio, with whom I'll be playing two full shows in July. This will be a potentially informative chapter in the continuing performance anxiety saga: Will the nerves hold out? You'll find out when I do!

And where, you ask, are said shows to take place? The first one (on the 16th of July) is in Port Townsend, WA, at a spot called The Upstage. The second one (July 24th) will be a bit closer to home, at the Northside Grill in Greenwood. [Do check out the Zamani Flamenco calendar for show specifics.]

Formal engagements have not, however, been all that's been occupying my ten fingers and merely marginally compromised frontal cortex. The infamous Evie Terlingchamp recently (as in last night) hosted an equally infamous Fourth of July party--complete with gratuitous grilling, mildly hallucinogenic cocktails, and--of course--flamenco. Rachel, Dani and I (sharing the stage with our friends Erin Lau and Daniel Azcarate from Barrio Flamenco) got to experience the good fun of playing flamenco amidst the intermittent freeforall of uninhibited fireworks explosions. (Should you happen through West Seattle, you'll recognize Evie's neighbors by their missing digits and singed eyebrows.)

Urban artillery aside, this was a great setting in which to play. I've come across occasions like this before--and they never cease to remind my why I took up guitar in the first place: being on stage in front of the faceless mass is one thing, but being up-close and making a personal connection with the people for whom one is playing is quite another. It's also (lucky us) and ideal setting for flamenco.

And there you have the update on Andy's flamenco wanderings: highly organized big shows, relatively organized small shows, and the unbridled chaos of the 4th. If there's a lesson here for how to "find" flamenco outside of Spain, perhaps it's this: always have a guitar handy and play when the opportunity strikes.

I'll keep you updated as to how that strategy works out. . .

Now you--go play!

~A