Fiery ‘Night of Flamenco’ to spotlight Vicente Griego and more
THE WILDFLOWER PLAYHOUSE and ReVóZo will present Pa’Lante, Pa’Tras, Flamenco Puro and Rumba Flamenca with Northern New Mexico roots in a performance Friday (Nov. 18) in Taos.
Dixon native Vicente Griego founded ReVóZo. He has graced stages across the world and is known for his unique flavor and representation of Flamenco PURO. Griego is noted as an international artist. His musicality and profound connection to his art is said to set him apart as both a historian and innovator of the craft.
He will be joined by Gabriel Lautaro Osuna, a master guitarist, musician, singer and Northern New Mexico native. Osuna has presented on stages from Germany, France, Mexico, Spain and throughout the U.S. Osuna directs and produces “Encuentro,” a Los Angelesbased musical group.
Joining on percussion will be Eddie Garcia, percussionist and rhythmical innovator, along with the ReVóZo “cuadro” whose talents extend to dancing, singing and rhythmic accompaniment: La Emi, Janira Cordova, Cienna Chavez and Aislin Garcia Robertson.
ReVóZo, which translates to “overflow, pouring out, spill over, abound,” is one of several projects of flamenco singer Vicente Griego. ReVóZo combines Flamenco puro and Rumba Flamenca traditions with elements of dance music, including Cuban Son, Reggae, Cumbia, Ranchera and Funk. ReVóZo’s musical offering is “magnetically danceable and unabashedly modern,” while also remaining true to its cultural roots.
Friday’s show will open in the Cante Hondo Flamenco form, La Trilla to the Martinete rhythm and tonality. It is a song that speaks to the tradition of threshing wheat. Historically, La Trilla was sung in Northern New Mexico by community and family members as the wheat was being threshed by a donkey, trampling the wheat which was carefully layered on white sheets. The thresh
ing would pause and the people would stretch the sheets to the wind and sing for the wind to blow away the chaff and leave seed so that the community could gather and break bread. This song was sung hundreds of years ago and was taught by Aaron Griego to his son, Vicente, when he was very young.
This introduction is part of a series of historical presentations that will be performed at ReVóZo in its residency productions at The Wildflower Playhouse. In spring 2023, Griego plans to bring to the stage the Martinete, an ancient palo forged from steel workers in Spain during an era of tremendous strife.