FLAMENCO SOUL
Flamenco Soul offers an up-close look at the flamenco and Latin sounds coming from Spain and the Americas. Under the artistic direction of Javier Limón (Seven-Time Latin Grammy Award Winner), Flamenco Soul presents a sample of the best flamenco in the world, risky but at the same time pure, by the hands and soul of a talented, young group that sets the tempo of the sound of today.

The show will be a journey: first, a glimpse of flamenco's oldest and most original styles; an overview of its distinct paths of evolution; finally arriving at the experimental modes of today, offering a preview to flamenco's future.
This event is part of Young Flamenco Project, an initiative of SPAIN arts & culture (www.spainculture.us) and the Berklee College of Music – Mediterranean Music Insitute to foster the musical creativity of young Spanish and Latin-American artists in the United States.

BIOS
Directed by Javier Limón
Seven-time Latin Grammy Award winner, Artistic Director of Berklee College of Music’s Mediterranean Music Institute in Valencia as well as 2012 artist-in-residence in Berklee Boston, the young producer, musician, and composer Javier Limón is already a legend of Latin American culture. His many composition and production credits include major albums by renowned artists such as Paco de Lucía, Bebo Valdés, El Cigala, Enrique Morente, Wynton Marsalis, and the acclaimed Spanish singer Concha Buika.

Featuring:
Ariadna Castellanos – Piano
Pianist and composer. First Spanish musician to achieve the prestigious Presidential Scholarship of Berklee College of Music. Ariadna has performed all over the world. She has recorded for Alejandro Sanz and José Mercé and worked with renowned flamenco artists such as Niño Josele and Jorge Pardo.

Nino de Los Reyes – Dance
Born in Boston in 1985, Nino made his professional debut in 1991 at the age of 6, at the Opera House in Buenos Aires. Inspired by great flamenco dancers like Carmen Amaya, he has performed all over the world.

Jeremy de Jesus – Flute
The young Puerto Rican native, has performed professionally with legends such as Chucho Valdés, Larry Harlow, Jerry Rivera and Terri Lyne Carrington. He has just released his debut album as bandleader and composer, ‘Semi Formal’.

Tamir Schmeling – Acoustic Bass
Double and electric bass player form Tel Aviv, Israel. He has studied in Berklee with Terri Lyne Carington, Greg Osby, Ed Tomassi, etc. and performed with artists such as Kevin Eubanks and Ignacio Berroa.

José Andrés Marquez - Drums
Graduated at the "Music Conservatory of Monterrey" in the symphonic percussion specialty. José has been on tour several times as dancer and musician with the Mexican folkloric ballet "Pueblo Mestizo" participating in the most remarkable international festivals. Drummer for Mexican folkloric/jazz project “AMARO” and member of “TAMBORERO” lab project under the direction of Mexican jazz drummer Emilio Tamez, currently he is a recipient of the well-known Presidential Scholarship at Berklee College of Music and is part of Berklee Valencia's first class program.

José Antonio Alvarez Montaña - Percussion
Born in madrid (Spain) 1984, José Antonio has studied his flamenco roots in the most traditional Flamenco school, as well as Afrocuban and African percussion. His music is influenced by the great bassist Alain Perez who plays in Paco de Lucia´s Band and who is also his teacher. He began performing with the rythmically virtuosos flamenco dancers like Alfonso Losa, Nino de los Reyes, Juan de Juan, Manuel Reyes, Antonio Canales among many others.

Seven-time Latin Grammy Award winner, Artistic Director of Berklee College of Music’s Mediterranean Music Institute in Valencia s well as 2012 artist-in-residence in Berklee Boston, the young producer, musician, and composer Javier Limon is already legend of Latin American culture.
He graduated from the Madrid Royal Conservatory, where he studied piano and guitar. He is an active composer and producer who began composing for flamenco artists but has since expanded his reach to Latin jazz musicians and Cuban artists. His many composition and production credits include major albums by renowned artists such as Paco de Lucía, Bebo Valdes, El Cigala, Enrique Morente, Wynton Marsalis, and the acclaimed Spanish singer Concha Buika
Recording from Bogota to Paris and New York to Palestine, the artist incorporates a decidedly international vibe in his take on the traditions of Flamenco. Raised in Spain, Limon traveled to New York City at an early age to train in the arts schools of the US. It was there that he was discovered for his potent and powerful lyricism and composition.
Employed by powerhouses of the flamenco world, such as Enrique Morente and Remedios Amaya, to work his magic, Limon’s ability to weave fairytales with his unique twists on the genre garnered him a Latin GRAMMY in 2004 for Producer of the Year. Limon has gone on to win a total of seven Latin GRAMMY’s, one GRAMMY and many more nominations.
On June 30th, 2011 at the seventh annual Women Together Gala and Awards in New York city, Javier will be receiving an award for his invaluable disclosure of flamenco music. With three albums to his name, the artist only continues to grow in his musical exploration.
Javier Limon’s latest project, Mujeres de Agua (2010), is an honest tribute to the artist’s talent in bringing together the top international performers. The tracks are focused around the inspiration of the Mediterranean, traditional instruments, rhythms, and atmosphere of the blue waters. Central to the sound is the eclectic and thoughtful collection of female voices used to bring Limon’s vision to life.