Flamenco in the soul and the family
By Dick Avery May 2, 2008 San Miguel de Allende
Concert
Folk harp & guitar
Sergio Basurto
Tue, May 6, 7:30 pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos, limited seating
As Sergio Basurto’s musical talent grew and expanded in the mid-seventies, one of the most famous Latin American folk musical groups in Mexico City, “Inca-Taki” (“Song of the Incas”), invited him to join them. Staying with them for five years, he learned and played a wide variety of South American string instruments, including the Quattro (a large Venezuelan guitar), the Mosquito (the little Mexican guitar), Valenciana (the classical Spanish guitar) and the Chirango (a Bolivian large ukulele). It was with Inca-Taki he found the harp, and didn’t look back.
He then decided to give the US a try. He was able to find work in a variety of small clubs, but Mexico continued to beckon. So after a short while, he returned to Mexico City. He hooked up with a friend, formed a duo and became the opening act for a female singer. She, impressed by his playing, invited him play in her group. At his audition, she asked him to “play a little flamenco.” He told her, “I don’t know any flamenco.” “OK, play some rumba.” He said, “I don’t know any rumba.” She hired him anyway. Why? Because, “you have a flamenco soul”! He was off and running.
Locating in San Miguel, Basurto found a great Latin American folk group, Los Garambullos (currently playing at Mama Mia), and joined them for regular gigs. During this time, his wife Gabriela had been taking flamenco dance lessons. The owner of Mama Mia asked her to form a dance group, which they did. Sergio, Gabriela and her teacher became the opening act for Los Garambullos. His career is in high gear now, with regular gigs at local venues, including the Bibloteca, Alfredo’s, Los Faroles (with a pianist friend) and La Puertecita.
More like a salon than a concert
Concert
Marcos Esqueda & Elena Shoemaker
Sat, May 3, 7:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
75/50 pesos
Mexican tenor Marcos Esqueda performs in a show on Saturday offering great variety. He loves Mexican boleros, but also adores ballads, movie and Broadway songs, and appreciates the great composers of Mexico and the US. The songs will be sung in Spanish, but the pianist speaks English, so all will know what the songs are saying. You’ll hear many familiar melodies and hopefully discover some new favorites from the wealth of Mexican music.
Esqueda is known to many in San Miguel as a singer, music lover, friend, doctor and also as the host of the Sunday night program on Radio XESQ, “Recordando el Pasado.” He has hosted almost 100 shows that showcase the breadth of Mexican music.
Esqueda will be accompanied by his long-time friend Elena Shoemaker, who has a long association with music and theater in San Miguel. They’ve worked together many times over the years. Esqueda performed in “Tales from the Jardín,” one of Shoemaker’s original shows, and in various recitals and salons. She was the co-founder and director of the Festival Internacional de Jazz and loves Mexican music as well.
Esqueda will perform soon in Mexico City at the Centro Cultural José Martí theater. He is well known at venues in the city which appreciate “The Golden Age” of Mexican music.
Tickets at the Teatro Santa Ana are 75 pesos with a special price for seniors of 50 pesos. Those of La Tercera Edad, or The Third Age, are of special interest to Marcos.
Enjoy an evening of music that will be more like an intimate salon performance than a concert.
Noche Bohemia at the Café Santa Ana
Concert
Sach Rioja
Wed, May 7, 7pm
Café Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
Guitarist Sach Rioja will sing ballads and love songs (música de trova) on Wednesday evening in the Café Santa Ana. The free concert is part of a new series in the café, which continues next week with Senegalese drummer Lamine Thiam. On Wednesdays, the Café also offers 2-for-1 mango or strawberry daiquiris, so you can make an evening of it and acquire that pleasant San Miguel sunset glow.
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