Un Respiro por El Mundo - INFO
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Las Guitarras de Espana's other albums Donde Esta Paco? and Ida Y Vuelta.
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Las Guitarras de Espana Brings The World To Chicago

"innovative & delicious" - WBEZ

You’d be mistaken if you thought you had to leave Chicago to experience true world music. Artists and musicians from India, Syria, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru have come together with the Chicago-based "Spanish guitar inspired" music and dance ensemble, Las Guitarras de Espana, resulting in the group's third record release, "Un Respiro por El Mundo" (literally, a breath by the world), on the Sweet Pickle Music label. The album will be released at a concert on Saturday, December 4 in Chicago and in stores nationwide on January 18, 2005.

A work inspired by travel.

Recorded at Uptown Recording in Chicago, “Un Respiro por El Mundo” is a rich tapestry of artistic vision and global sounds inspired by the ensemble’s performances, lectures, and studies in Spain, Cuba, India, Cambodia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico all combined with elements of American Rhythm & Blues and Jazz.

The album features the work of core ensemble members Patricia Ortega-Alonso (singer/composer), Carlo Basile (guitarist/composer), and Doug Brush (percussionist/producer). Guest artists, many of whom will also appear at the concert release, include an assortment of world class musicians and dancers: Kalyan Pathak(tabla), Kinan Abou-afach (cello), Wendy Clinard (flamenco dance), Siri Sonty (classical Indian dance), Andres Castillo (Latin guitar), Colin Bunn (tres guitar), Greg Nergaard and Mike Ulery (acoustic bass), Don Jacobs (clarinet), Gerald McClendon (rhythm & blues singer), and Vicente Griego (flamenco singer).

A natural progression.

Las Guitarras de Espana first displayed their exploration and fascination with other cultures on their highly acclaimed sophomore album, “Ida y Vuelta” (on Sweet Pickle Music), in 2002. Since then, the ensemble also collaborated with Shona musicians from Zimbabwe in the summer of 2003 and Rajasthani musicians (in India) in early 2004. In this spirit, the December 4th Hothouse performance will also feature an encore performance of "Unraveling Rhythms," a collaboration with Clinard Dance Theater and classical Indian dancer, Siri Sonty. All of these collaborations and travels have influenced the ensemble's approach to creating new music based on traditional forms.

"We continue to seriously study traditional flamenco and other world music forms, yet as artists, we also feel a need to express in our music and dance our personal life experiences ranging from our travels to visual arts, poetry and literature, as well as our own music heritages,” says Basile.