Flamenco, music of India and the Mideast
By Russell Monk

Concert
Billy “Blanco” White
Thu–Fri, Feb 12–13, 7:30pm
Shelter Theater
Vicente Guerrero 4
180 pesos

Google Billy White’s name, throw in terms such as “rock” and “guitarist,” and you will find websites and blogs devoted to bands he was a member of, where rabid fans still rave. His name also appears on “alternative” lists of the top 100.

Or, at least it did. He isn’t Billy White any more. He is “Blanco”—the artist formally

known as Billy White—who has disappeared along with the flowing hair and

ultrafast shredding. He will likely cringe at being “outed” in public like this.

I hope he will forgive me.

Blanco came to San Miguel to try to live a bit under the radar (not any more), to raise a family and to pursue new musical directions. Before arriving here he had toured the world with rock bands and seen his share of limos. He soon tired of that, and after a stint in Spain, where he studied flamenco guitar, he moved to New York and worked variously as a record producer and session musician.

But flamenco music had engulfed him, and it quickly became an undeniable passion. He also discovered Zen Buddhism and soon found himself meditating for hours on end at retreats in New Mexico. Blanco’s new devotions did not mix well with the world of rock music.

When he arrived in San Miguel, Blanco soon started to play guitar and percussion with local flamenco troupes under the name “Guillermo Blanco.” He has played with many of the best musicians in San Miguel and performed at benefits for Casita Linda and Jóvenes Adelantes. Most recently, he performed in the Beatles tribute during the jazz festival in December.

The changes keep happening. Blanco is unveiling a new show at the Shelter Theater, and word on the street is that it will be great and unlikely anything seen previously in this town: One Blanco, as many as 10 different instruments, many or all of them playing simultaneously as he uses a “loop” machine to layer sound upon sound and create wave after wave of melodies and beats.

The show also includes harmonic chanting, similar to that of the Tuvan throat singers from Mongolia and Buddhist monks, an unusual and mesmerizing vocal technique.

Blanco is somewhat of a perfectionist, and I have no doubt that his upcoming shows will hit their mark, and surpass it.

The perfect Valentine’s Day present
By Beverly Russell

Concert
Noche de Amor II
Fri–Sat, Feb 13–14, 7pm
Los Logros, with Alejandro 
Mora Fonseca, Letua and Lamine Thiam
Teatro Ángela Peralta
50/70/100 pesos

After a sell-out concert last year, Los Logros are presenting another “Noche de Amor” to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. This year, they are doubling up with two concerts, February 13–14.

Los Logros—vocalists Ron Shawn and Ken Vaun accompanied by Liz Stone on piano— perform a program of 16 different enchanting love songs, the type of music that had last year’s audience humming and clapping to the beat. Judging from this year’s repertoire, even dancing in the aisles may be expected, with such songs as “New York, New York,” sung in Spanish; “This Could Be” and the one-time Sinatra favorite “My Funny Valentine;” along with “Look for the Silver Lining” and popular Mexican love songs. 

Expect some special surprises in Noche de Amor II—not just in the outfits worn by Shawn and Vaun but in the musicians who will join Los Logros during the evening. The melodic pianist Alejandro Mora Fonseca from Colima joins Los Logros on keyboard for some numbers and also plays a piano solo. The lively “Letua”—Alejandro and Jacobo, guitars; Pancho, bass; and Laloc, drums—will feature the haunting melodies of “Gypsy Jazz,” which caught Shawn’s ear just this past year. They perform three original songs: “Tarantinos Blues,” “Embrujo” and “Love Seat.”

Lamine Thiam, a Sengalese dancer and drummer who teaches a popular dance class at San Miguel’s El Sindicato arts center, also is on the program.

A rare talent with an international reputation as a dancer, choreographer and actor, Thiam has performed in Europe and the US and appeared in the Steven Spielberg film Armistad. He has invited four drummers from Mexico City to add to the percussion excitement. With this extraordinary blend of up-tempo sounds and rhythms, no question this dazzling program will bring down the house.

Noche de Amor II (staged-managed by Rosalie Gower) is a benefit show for ALMA, the assisted living home for the elderly in San Miguel. Tickets are on sale at the Peralta box office, Hernández Macías 62.

Beverly Russell is the author of several books on the arts. She has written articles for many publications including The New York Times.

Maruja Leñero starts El Topo winter season 
By José Luis Ceñal

Concert
D’Sole Quartet
Wed, Feb 11, 9pm
El Viejo Topo Café-Teatro
Stirling Dickinson 28, Local 7
Col. San Antonio
Cover: 200 pesos

A new year is barely dawning and el Viejo Topo is already coming out of hibernation and working to start the winter season on magic and music. Our first surprise is Maruja Leñero and her jazz band D’Sole, who are not unknown in Guanajuato—they participated in the Festival Internacional Cervantino 2006.

A flute and sax player, and a composer, Leñero graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Música in 1988, and has since been orienting her professional life in different ways. She was part of the Carlos Chávez Symphonic Orchestra for three years; in 1996 she composed “Agua,” a chamber music piece for bass, piano, percussion, flute and sax, based on the Gaston Bachelard’s essay “Water and Dreams.” As another side to her versatile career, Leñero has created several projects to introduce music to children, leading several bands as Garabato and Travesaño, which produced Los Cuatro Elementos and Oquizpi, both CDs with songs for children.

D’Sole Quartet was founded in 2001, to explore musical genres such as jazz, bolero, pop, film music, blues and bossa. Gathering the talent of three more great musicians— Santiago Derbez (piano), Daniel Soberanes (bass) and Enrique Nativitas (drums)—the result is an amazing trip where the band flows freely through styles from classical to cha-cha-chá, or from a Beatles tune to bolero. The band does delicious interpretations of John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things,” and of the Claude Bolling Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio, where Leñero displays her powerful skills with the flute, following in the steps of Rampal.

Leñero’s trajectory seems to be guided by the ancient Greeks’ magical perception of the world compounded by four elements. But a fifth element contains them all: music.

Romantic and classical music
By Jaime Fernandez

Concert
Enrique Fernández 
Thu, Feb 12, 5:30pm
Instituto Allende
Ancha de San Antonio 20
100 pesos, cocktail included

Born in Irapuato, Enrique Fernández was exposed to mariachi music at an early age and later developed the interest in learning and singing the music of his country’s cultural fabric.

After four years of studying and singing mariachi music, he decided to focus his singing career on romantic/classical music. He sought the expertise of renowned vocal teacher Seth Riggs, who has coached Josh Grobin, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bolton and Michael Jackson. Riggs recognized Enrique’s talent and gave him a unique opportunity to train in Los Angeles with the music industry legend.

Arias and duets 
By Lily Hernández

Sunday Matinee Concert Series
Clara Dunham, Gaby Perales & Xavier Hernández
Sun, Feb 15, 2:30pm 
Sun, Feb 22, 2:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

Clara Dunham (soprano), Gaby Perales (soprano) and Xavier Hernández (tenor) are three great singers living in San Miguel who are well known as part of the city’s musical life. In this concert, they present a selection of the most famous arias and duets from operas by Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti, Mozart and more. Talented young pianist Mauro Ledesma accompanies the singers. Tickets are on sale at the theatre; seating is limited. 

Flamenco dance
By Angela García

Junta Flamenca
Anís and Yerbabuena 
Fri, Feb 13, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
200 pesos

Although the common denominators of passion and fervor never waiver, there is no one single flamenco dance. In fact, flamenco actually manifests itself in more than 50 distinct palos (types of flamenco dance). Both flamenco music and flamenco dance involve a great deal of personal improvisation, but personal expression must adhere to the strict framework of flamenco’s traditions and rhythmic patterns.

The role of the dancer is essentially to physically interpret the words with graceful arm movements that contrast with intense, reverberating steps. Duets, performed by a man and a woman, are often the most vivid flamenco dances. The dancers keep their eyes firmly locked each other, constantly and aggressively building off one another in what becomes competition of passion, sexual tension and emotion.

Folklore and flamenco guitar series continues 
By Gaby Servin

Concerts
Sergio Basurto
Mon, Feb 9, 7:30pm
Thu, Feb 12, 7:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

Sergio Basurto’s great sensitivity in the interpretation of folklore rhythms will transport us on a magical tour around several Latin American countries.

As an example, the musical piece “Cascada” (waterfall) is a Paraguayan polka inspired by the sound of water falling from the multiple waterfalls in that region. 

The Venezuelan joropo “Concierto de la Llanura” is a spectacular piece and so representative of that country that is considered by many as the informal national anthem of Venezuela. It is derived from the Spanish fandango brought to America during the colonial era and has a joyous rhythm. 

We leave the plains and return to urban Havana, Cuba, and the habaneras “La Paloma” y “La Comparsa” remind us that Havana is a port and its songs are sung by sailors and fishermen. During the 19th century, the voices of the humble sailors, maneuvering their fragile boats on the perilous sea, broadcast these songs of sad poetry all over Latin America and Spain.

Contrasting with this sadness and nostalgia are the rhythms of sones jarochos from the Mexican state of Veracruz. These rhythms are used at fiestas and celebrations to accompany the zapateado, danced as a Mexican flamenco. All these rhythms interpreted on the folklore harp will be combined on the guitar with the original rhythms of Spanish flamenco from which they derive.

The concert starts promptly; early arrival is recommended because seating is limited.

Gypsy music night

Javier Estrada
Fri, Feb 6, 7pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

Guitarist Javier Estrada sings and plays noche de fiesta gitana, the enchanting music from the south. His light touch across the strings and the melodies of the gypsies set an intimate mood. These outstanding concerts are part of the Biblioteca Pública’s cultural program. Tickets are available at the theater box office. For concerts at 7pm or after, enter through the Café Santa Ana entrance at Reloj 50A. Seating is limited for Sala Quetzal events

Indian improvisations

Piano Concert
Antonio Cabrero Mendoza
Wed, Feb 11, 7:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

Pianist Antonio Cabrero has a flair for combining his classical training with traditional jazz and his own exotic inspirations. Cabrero is known throughout Mexico as a symphony conductor, but his piano concerts have assumed new relevance in recent years, due to his passion for improvising over jazz standards and music from Spain, Mexico and India.

 During his studies in New York, he researched classical music of India and many of his improvisations are based in those musical structures. Every Wednesday, he has a different program combining American music, jazz, Latin American and classical melodies.