Female Flamenco Guitar Players?

[ssante]

During the late seventies and early 80's I opened up my bands 2nd set (solo) with a few Flamenco and World Fusion compositions I wrote back then which I played on a Hikari Flamenco Guitar I owned at the time. Generally speaking the solo performance was well received but most of the audience was there for our "Heavy Electric" compositions.

However, I remember on one occasion in particular where I was invited to a friends house for a gathering of women to chat and party (I believe it may have been someones birthday). I remember bringing my Flamenco guitar with me. A few of the women asked me to play a piece or two. They had no idea what I was going to play and frankly had no idea my acoustic guitar was a Flamenco guitar. So I started out by playing one of my original flamenco compositions I had written back then titled: Gitano El Duente. After I finished the song I remember two of the ladies said the following and I quote: "don't you know that women are not supposed to play guitar like that?". I was totally speechless. So now lets fast forward to the present.

I have spent some time searching the Internet in order to see if there are any fine Female Flamenco Guitars players of note and I have come up with "nada". Maybe Googles search engine has some sort of limitation regarding Women Flamenco Guitar players. :p

Their certainly is a plethora of great female "Classical", "Brazilian" and "Jazz" guitar players. But Flamenco? :o

I find this very odd. Anyone care to postulate?

[NGiorgio]

Here's one.

http://www.marijatemo.com

[NGiorgio]

And another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kXh2NWy2dg

I should be able to find a few more ..........

[at_leo_87]

Mercedes Lujan

starting at 1:38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khIyiotSYXc

[NGiorgio]

Wow, be still my heart.

Using the ever popular Dunlop capo on that Conde, no less. I still am impressed.

[NGiorgio]

Stephanie,

To answer your question, I think that the flamenco culture hasn't had the time to accept a female soloist on guitar. No problem with singers or dancers but it seems that men have been the mainstay for performing guitarists.

I would imagine that it will take a while longer for women to be accepted in Flamenco as the equal to men as guitarists. Perhaps the role of the guitar in Flamenco was/is considered to be masculine. Maybe we need a true Gitano to help us with this question.

Nacio, where are you?

[Joguitar]

Like Flamenco could reflekt like a mirror as living art the changes of roles between men and women change might happen....but then some of the puristic elements of the inner roots and dramaturgic setups of flamenco will end.....No woman no cry....as Rasta man would say...
Joguitar

[Jubilee Valence]

...we need a true Gitano to help us with this question.

Nacio, where are you?

Monro' Faya's computer is down again but I'll try to convey his teaching to me on a similar subject...

In the Gypsy culture flamenco (performing and musicianship) is often handed down within the immediate family, close family, friends, associates etc...

Regarding guitar playing and teaching in many cases a mother is the one who introduces the kids to the music!

Apparently there's some moms who play! ;)

Maybe Loc' can wrangle some more out of Juan

As far as the guy/girl issue goes, maybe it just pans out that the women sing & dance, leaving the guys to accompany...

And remember Keith's instructional axiom:

"...miss a beat, get hit in the head with shoe..."

To me, that just makes sense..."OUCHH!!!!???"
:mrgreen:

[oc chuck]

Don't forget the ever lovin' Charo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BupUq3Dsx8E&feature=related

If you watch to the end, you will see an innovation
that Paco de Lucia couldn't touch!!!

Energy to burnnnnn....

[NGiorgio]

As far as the guy/girl issue goes, maybe it just pans out that the women sing & dance, leaving the guys to accompany...





I get the Mom thing but there are men performing Cante and Baile. No?

[ssante]

And another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kXh2NWy2dg

I should be able to find a few more ..........


Laura Gonzalez is very good. Thanks so much.

[Jubilee Valence]

I get the Mom thing but there are men performing Cante and Baile. No?

oh yeah, definitely!

examples abound...

I met a young guy dancer & his dad here in town that belong to a troupe/school....

and Jose Reyes was unbelievable!!!

I was just speculating on the overall scene... ;)

[ssante]

Mercedes Lujan

starting at 1:38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khIyiotSYXc

Its unfortunate the Videos of Mercedes Lujan are of such poor quality. Lots of windnoise on the patio shots. I really appreciate your pointing me in her direction. I will have to search some more.

[ssante]

Don't forget the ever lovin' Charo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BupUq3Dsx8E&feature=related

If you watch to the end, you will see an innovation
that Paco de Lucia couldn't touch!!!

Energy to burnnnnn....

I had totally forgotten about "Charo". She was very talented on guitar. She may have been the first women to appear on the Flamenco scene. 8)

Yes indeed it might be difficult for PDL to touch the ending innovation.

[ssante]

And remember Keith's instructional axiom:

"...miss a beat, get hit in the head with shoe..."

To me, that just makes sense..."OUCHH!!!!???"
:mrgreen:

Too Funny .. :cool:

[Great Googly Moogly]

Maybe Loc' can wrangle some more out of JuanHe just got back into town. This is about the idea of female flamenco players? I'll ask him what he thinks.

[NGiorgio]

Here is a very interesting lady. Maybe not a true Flamenca but she is quite a player.

www.virginialuque.com

[ssante]

Here is a very interesting lady. Maybe not a true Flamenca but she is quite a player.

www.virginialuque.com

OMG!! She is Fabulous. She showcases her flamenco techniques on the 2nd video.

http://www.virginialuque.com/listen.html

[NGiorgio]

Here's Marija Temo on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35xyWLfYGkE&feature=related

[NGiorgio]

Here's something on female guitarists in Spain.

http://www.deflamenco.com/revista/paginai.jsp?codigo=2349

[Jubilee Valence]

Here's something on female guitarists in Spain.

http://www.deflamenco.com/revista/paginai.jsp?codigo=2349

Great!!

And in the second article entitled “Flamenco se escribe con jota” is this gem...

Quote: "......But just as has happened in flamenco, the Aragonese folkdance par excellence, now seeks the sophistication that will allow it to be accepted by a broader audience..........…so far so good. But it makes no sense to harp on the shared scale and compás when a large part of the Western world’s folklore has the same three quarter time and major key.
....Úrsula López interprets a long tientos tangos, but her most important function is in unifying the two genres in this admirable and entertaining show." End quote

heh heh heh.....

outlaws: 1
puros: 0

:mrgreen:

[Great Googly Moogly]

Here is a very interesting lady. Maybe not a true Flamenca but she is quite a player.

www.virginialuque.com (http://www.virginialuque.com) "Interesting" indeed. Not to mention that her Leyenda was superb.

[ssante]

"Interesting" indeed. Not to mention that her Leyenda was superb.

Complete Agreement here. In Fact I plan to order her CD. :D

[Jubilee Valence]

From the David LaPlante Guitars website ( http://www.guitarsbydavidlaplante.com/ ) is this fine player:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJfQEMgFa4

WARNING!!!! :arrow: Sandra--DO NOT WATCH!! VIDEO CONTAINS RDLA!!!

(..if this was "my" thread, I'd add a "poll" to see how many people thinks she'll sneak a peek anyway!!! Like the old "bad car wreck" analogy!!!) :mrgreen:

btw, David builds some fine guitars, ehh??

[Y-2-H]

I like Lara González

[ssante]

I like Lara González

I enjoy Laura Gonzalez well.

[guitarist]

One of the most amazing female flamenco guitarists I've seen is Julia Banzi. She lived a long time in Spain and studied with some of the flamenco masters and in the dance studios. She performs alot and composes as well with her ensemble called Al-Andalus (www.Andalus.com). You can find her on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOoLfxRSdNQ).

I got to take classes with her and she is a great teacher as well. I feel so lucky to have studied with such an amazing but so humble person.

She also wrote a dissertation on female andalusian musicians which is a good read.

[Todd]

One of the most amazing female flamenco guitarists I've seen is Julia Banzi. She lived a long time in Spain and studied with some of the flamenco masters and in the dance studios. She performs alot and composes as well with her ensemble called Al-Andalus (www.Andalus.com). You can find her on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOoLfxRSdNQ).

I got to take classes with her and she is a great teacher as well. I feel so lucky to have studied with such an amazing but so humble person.

She also wrote a dissertation on female andalusian musicians which is a good read.

Unfortunately, she's not playing any flamenco in the videos.

When i saw this thread, i was excited to see something cool, but ive yet to see a female flamenco guitarist that has the real stuff. Laura is decent. Average at best. Not outstanding next to advanced male flamenco's.

Its kinda wierd, cause there are plenty of female classical guitarists who i actually like better than most male guitarists.
But, I think flamenco needs a very muscular technique which ive yet to see from a female player.

[Tom Blackshear]

Here's one.

http://www.marijatemo.com


Tom Rodriguez, the maker of her guitar, mentioned that to his knowledge no other maker has made a guitar like this to perform with both classical and flamenco music; playing technique.

Come on, Tom you can't be serious :-)

[Jerry]

Caroline Plante is in the news. I have checked sources for her CD but there seems to be nothing available. Is there more information available? Jerry j9s1131@centurylink.net

[Ted G]

http://www.carolineplante.com/index.php?option=com_rokquickcart&view=rokquickcart&Itemid=63&lang=en

[dekh]

You simply have to listen to Virginia Luque - she started out as pure flamenco player, then as a young girl was taken under Segovia's wing, now plays both classical and flamenco...but always with passion and an avowedly "romantic" approach, sometimes even with a tear or two (especially on the piece "Memories of my homeland").
David