Hello there!
I have some cool options for you this weekend. These are:
TONIGHT APRIL 8
ALFONSO PONTICELLI Flamenco & Gypsy-Jazz Showcase: special guest, flamenco dancer, Cristina Gutierrez.
Tonight is your chance to listen to some cool fusion of Gypsy Jazz and Flamenco and see my lovely friend and flamenco dancer Cristina Gutierrez perform at Katerina’s (1920 W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago). This show runs every 2nd Friday of the month. Ponticelli has played gypsy-jazz music for more than a decade,having traveled several times to the annual Django Reinhardt festival in France. He introduced gypsy-jazz to Chicago in the 1990s. A multi-instrumentalist, he won the 1994 U.S. National Mountain Dulcimer Championship & plays both banjo and guitar with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. He’s also a gypsy flamenco guitarist, having been to Cordoba, Spain,
to study with the great flamenco guitarist, Rafael Riqueni. Here’s an example of Ponticelli’s Flamenco nights from a previous monthly showcase, featuring La Perla Alegrias con Panzequito, Alfonso Ponticelli, y Swing Gitan. This youtube footage taken by TierraRojaChicago:
Show starts at 10 pm
Cover: $10
LATIN NIGHT w/ co-host, Latin Socialites!
If you rather want a less intimate atmosphere and feel like clubbing, go to NV Penthouse Lounge’s Latin night (116 W. Hubbard in Chicago). They will be playing Colombian, Top 40, and Spanish Rock music. Henchman’s DJ Isaias (of Calineiro fame!) will be spinning music.
Cost: No Cover till 11p
SATURDAY APRIL 9
WORLD MUSIC SATURDAY AT LOKAL FEATURIN DJ’S KINO & MWELWA
My DJ friend Mwelwa Musambacine and DJ Kino will be at this modern, European-inspired restaurant and lounge located in Wicker Park playing music from around the world, from reggae, forro, kizomba, and salsa to samba, afrobeat, ndombolo, calypso, and soca.
LOKaL is located at 1904 West North Avenue. Music plays from 10pm to 3am and there is no cover.
Let me know if you end up going to any of these events. I would love to hear about it. Enjoy your weekend!
Chicago Urbanite 
January 12th, 2012
Dear ChicagoUrbanite,
Allow me to introduce you to Hola, Flamenco, an independent documentary that follows Spain’s UNESCO-recognized national art. The film is scheduled for free online release this spring; both the new teaser preview and full-length trailer are now available at: http://www.holaflamencofilm.com
Featuring some of the world’s most charismatic performers alongside renowned cultural experts, the film progresses through the cities and towns of Andalusia, taking footage of Flamenco wherever it emerges. WIth each destination, an aspect of the genre’s unique character is revealed through performances and interviews: its multicultural origins, the debate between “purists” and “fusionistas” and the improbable contribution of Spain’s coal miners.
Thank you for your consideration. If you enjoy these previews, please consider spreading the word and sharing them with your viewers.
Sincerely,
Avatar St. Louis
Director & Executive Producer
Hola, Flamenco
Hola Avatar St. Louis!
I loved the previews! I will share it with my followers. Can you give me some info about you and how you conceived this idea? How are you financing this documentary? Also, please let me know when the movie will be released
Thanks for sharing!
Claudia Urbano
Chicago Urbanite
Hola Claudia,
Thanks for your message! A bit about me: I’m a filmmaker, photographer and artist living in New York City. A former colleague of mine is a professional Flamenco guitarist in Manhattan, and through him, I was introduced to the genre.
I can’t say exactly what made me undertake this project, other than a fascination with Flamenco, and a sense that the more I learned about it, the less I understood. Once I made the decision to go ahead, my goal was straightforward and simple: to create something that was beautiful to look at, but that also conveyed the passions, personalities and notions of those who dedicate themselves to the art of Flamenco. The film is currently in post-production, but will be released online in late spring/early summer. We’ve already had a number of offers to hold screenings, including Boston, New York and Seville!
Check http://www.holaflamencofilm.com for updates, photos, information and more free, high-quality Flamenco content!
Saludos,
Avatar