Palmas, Compás & Cajón
LUIS DE LA TOTA & JUAN GRANDE CARRASCO
PALMAS, CAJON & COMPÁS WORKSHOP – REGISTER
Friday, Sept. 28
7-9pm
$45 two hours/two teachers
Waterfront Hotel, Jack London Sq., Oakland
Both Luis de la Tota and Juan Grande Carrasco live and breathe the soniquete of Jerez: actually, they ARE the soniquete de Jerez: that unmistakable rhythmic approach from Jerez de la Frontera’s Barrio de Santiago.
TAKE THIS CLASS!!!! – REGISTER
DO NOT MISS THIS CHANCE TO SOAK UP THE AIRE and SONIQUETE de JEREZ!!
Performance
Luis de la Tota & Juan Grande will be performing with FIESTA JEREZ on Thursday September 27th at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Workshop participants will receive a discount code for tickets to the show at time of online registration.
Juan “Grande” Marquez Carrasco is one of the top young percussionists in Jerez today. He performs regularly with his uncle, Diego Carrasco and is in-demand studio musician as well.
Luis de La Tota
Luis is a beloved teacher known for his ability to share the secrets of flamenco compás with endless energy, humor and grace. This man has more aire than anyone. Palmas, Compas, Jaleos: he has it all and more. One of the most charismatic and cool Gitanos de Jerez. Born in one of the oldest Gypsy neighborhoods of Jerez de La Frontera, El Barrio de Santiago, Luis de la Tota began his career as a percussionist at the age of 8. He takes his artistic name from his grandmother ‘La Tota’, who has been an inspiration to him since his infancy. As a percussionist and palmero, Luis tours with flamenco’s top artists such as Antonio Del Pipa, Fernando de La Morena, El Capullo, Moraito, Diego Carrasco and Angelita Vargas and has come to the Bay Area several times with dancer Maria “Chacha”Bermudez. As a Flamenco lyricist, his verses (letras) have been recorded widely and his work as a percussionist can be heard on many CDs. Finally, it may surprise you to know that for their love of Heavy Metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Luis along with his twin brother Ali (who is also a palmero) consider themselves to be ‘Flamenco Heavies.’
“I’m taking time off this summer to study with Luis de la Tota who is arguably the best palmero in the whole world…except he has an identical twin brother named Ali who is hmmm, well, just as good! I have seen Luis perform countless times and he is the embodiment of compas and accompanies with such JOY that you cannot help but watch him. Never mind the dancer. The dancer can be doing the most spectacular footwork, but the man behind the dancer is Luis with all his palmas, jaleo and aire.
KASANDRA “LA CHINA” Portland, Oregon – student
