Tesoro

Tesoro at KTAOS

Flamenco fusion band Tesoro are playing Friday (Nov. 15), 8:30 p.m., at the KTAOS Solar Center, 9 State Road 150, north of El Prado. Cover is $5.

Tesoro creates music "that not only mesmerizes the audience but captivates even the most sophisticated flamenco purists and enthusiasts with their unique sound," a press release reads. "They will make you want to jump out of your seat and dance."

For more, call (575) 758-5826 or visit tesorotucson.com or ktao.com - Tempo Magazine/The Taos News

Things are going swimmingly for Justin Fernandez.

“It’s been quite a journey and things are starting to take off,” he says during an interview from his Tucson home. “We’re blessed to be able to take our music on the road.”

Fernandez is part of the flamenco-inspired rock group Tesoro. The band also includes Efisio Giordanelli, Andrew McClarron, Brian Scott and Gabriel Kaiser.

Tesoro was formed about a decade ago and has slowly made its way into touring regionally.

Tesoro
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16
WHERE: Sol at Santa Fe Brewing, 37 Fire Place, Santa Fe
HOW MUCH: $5 at holdmyticket.com or 886-1251
Fernandez says the band played the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin this past March and is looking forward to getting back in 2014.

“I think our sound has evolved over time and we’re in a good place when it comes to music,” he says. “It’s important for us to keep moving forward with our music.”

Fernandez says as the band’s sound has evolved over 10 years, it has always been rooted in flamenco.

“It’s been an integral part of our foundation,” he says. “As we were developing, the audience could see it heavily. As we’ve been moving forward, the influence is still there but we’ve found ways to modify it and make it our own.”

Fernandez says with Tesoro’s new music, the guys are looking to push themselves out of their comfort zone.

“We’re totally going outside of the box,” he says. “We have an amazing drummer and singer now and it’s all coming together really well. It’s important for us to keep the communication.”

Tesoro is back in the studio with producer/engineer Jim Waters, who has worked with Sonic Youth, Chuck Prophet and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. - Adrian Gomez, Albuquerque Journal

Art and business. When the two concepts collaborate, creativity can go to new places. Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance has ventured to new places through a long-time partnership with Vestar, owner of both the Oro Valley and Tempe Marketplaces, expanding the nonprofit's reach to Phoenix.

On Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Arizonans can experience the business of arts enduring through innovative partnerships during Tempe Marketplace Arts and Crafts Festival.
The festival offers an unexpected combination, bringing local, handmade creations to the national storefronts of Barnes & Noble, JCPenney, GAP, Best Buy, Old Navy and Target.

Woodwork, textiles, glass, ceramics, paintings, jewelry and more will fill the market along with live music and arts activities for kids.

With 1.3 million square feet of retail space, featuring dramatic light and laser elements, outdoor fireplaces and unique water elements, Tempe Marketplace delivers an interactive shopping, dining and entertainment experience in a vibrant, high-energy outdoor setting.

Featured artist

Sheaz Jewelry is created by a Tucson-based, mother-daughter team, Charlene Hock and Ashley Bowman. Their line features one-of-kind pieces including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more. Semi-precious stones, pearls, copper and vintage findings give each piece a unique look.

The jewelry is handmade with care, making Sheaz Jewelry an award-winning accessories line that has gathered a strong following of wonderful clients over the past six years.

Featured performer

From the ancient caves dwelling in the depths of Spain to the streets of Tempe, flamenco has been brought to a new level with rock, jazz and blues influences. The band Tesoro, meaning "treasure" in Spanish, captivates even the most sophisticated flamenco purists and enthusiasts.

The group gains inspiration from musical masters like Buena Vista Social Club, The Gypsy Kings, Paco de Lucia, Vicente Amigo and Mana. Their sound is dynamic, energetic and romantic.

Tesoro was founded in 2000 by Brian Scott and Justin Fernandez. Andrew McClarron joined shortly after adding the bass element to the band. As the group developed, Tesoro eventually found their sound that has made them a unique experience. In 2009, they were graced with the addition of Manuel Inigo, a truly talented vocalist and percussionist from Cananea, Mexico, and Gabriel Kaiser recently joined the group on drums.

Open the Front Door to: Tempe Marketplace.

- Frontdoors News Network

Tesoro wants its audiences to move to the groove when it performs

/////

Don't just stand there. If you're at a Tesoro show, you'd better shake your hips.


The band even employs up to three flamenco dancers to shimmy onstage during performances to bolster the atmosphere.

"We like to see people moving," said band manager and mentor Alan Thomas, 37.

The five-member mostly instrumental band mixes traditional flamenco with rock 'n' roll.

"We have a very young vibe," said guitarist Brian Scott.

Hard to expect anything less from band members who file Led Zeppelin and Nirvana in the same influential category as the Gipsy Kings and Ojos de Brujo.

Then again, Tucson is a pretty eclectic town. Four-fifths of Tesoro went to high school in Tucson, which is where founders Justin Fernandez and Scott met around 2000.

The band has seen some lineup changes but acknowledged the Old Pueblo is a fitting launching point for their flamenco fusion.

A similar act in, say, Oklahoma, where percussionist Michael Solomon went to high school, might not guarantee the built-in audience.

"It helps we're close to the border," Fernandez said.

Not that the band needs much of an audience to enjoy itself.

"We have a good time playing if there's three people in the place," Solomon said.

/////

Meet the band

Justin Fernandez, 23

Rhythm guitar

Day job: Full-time musician.

Alex Login, 24

Drums

Day job: Software developer.

Andrew McClarron, 19

Bass

Day job: Full-time musician.

Brian Scott, 23

Lead guitar

Day job: Teacher at Mission Manor Elementary.

Michael Solomon, 28

Percussion

Day job: Massage therapist

Quickly

Tesoro means "gift" or "treasure" in Spanish.

The band is busy recording, "Beginnings," the follow-up to the band's debut, "Como En Vivo." They expect to release it by the end of the year.

/////

From the house lights to the encore

Tesoro takes us through a virtual performance.

Pre-show rituals:

Fernandez does jumping jacks. Band members warm up their hands and try to bond.

Feelings when stepping onstage:

"Time to kick some ass," Andrew McClarron said.

"Complete bliss," Scott said.

When playing:

"Sometimes it almost feels like a telepathic thing between me and (Fernandez)," Scott said.

"It's pretty emotional, like we're just channeling intense feelings," Solomon said.

Exiting the stage following the encore:

"Like we've done something really good for the people," McClarron said.

* Contact reporter Kevin Smith at 434-4079 or ksmith@azstarnet.com.

- Arizona Daily Star

The Tucson group Tesoro plays its own rhythmic brand of flamenco at the tequila-salsa event. - Jim Davis; Arizona Daily Star

few thoughts on the last full day of SXSW, Saturday, March 16, a couple of days removed.

*Someone at SXSW has a real sense of humor; they booked New Orleans bounce star Big Freedia at twelve noon on an upper stage of the Convention Center, backed up with free Bloody Mary’s. Big Freedia is generally going to be the last act up in any given evening, and in fact was the last act, at 1 a.m., on a stage somewhere in Austin later that evening. But, it was perversely perfect: Big Freedia’s insanely in your face persona and messaging (“Ass Everywhere,” basically), brutally simplistic grooves, and booty shaking dancers was in fact the perfect way to rouse a sluggish crowd up for the final day of the festival after several days of ever-increasing burn-out. But really, check out Big Freedia on video to get the full effect. This is what they warn you about in church: the libido run wild, all eyes on the booty, lasciviousness as a POV. Really, really.

*Detroit’s The Sights distilled that city’s rich musical history - punk and garage rock, soul & R&B and girl group pop - into a perfectly balanced guitar-bass-drums-sax-keys + two back-up singers set that suffered only for being booked at 1 in the afternoon after 4 days of music. Great stuff; catch them in a smoky club sometime for the full effect.

*I found myself talking to a gent that turned out to be Kevin Godley of 10CC and Godley and Creame fame, in town to pitch some sort of audio device to the accumulated masses of musicians. He was a delightful gentlemen, with eyes that actually twinkled, and more proof that you can run into just about anybody, randomly, at SXSW and have some sort of pleasingly off the cuff exchange.

*Back at the Convention Center, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and Sly Stones’s cute-as-sweet potato pie daughter (sporting a pink ‘fro) indulged in a free-floating mutual appreciation society, obstinately on a panel discussion about the History of Funk (there’s a film coming out), but really just an excuse to give each other props about how funky they all are. Which is perfectly true, of course: if this wasn’t the funkiest panel in history, I’ll turn in my Funk Card and retire.

*Other than a brief early foray out to see the wonderfully off the wall, absurdly high energy Brazilian electro/hip hop combo Bonde Do Role, the rest of the night belonged to Tucson, and Tucson stepped up and blew the house down. The full band showcase was at the Speakesy, right in the middle of downtown, and it was a night to treasure. Getting there a little late I missed Andrew Collberg (sorry man, that’s twice at the Festival!) as Chicha Dust were laying into their first number, and they had the crowd from the get-go. If you haven’t seen Chicha Dust - fronted by Gabriel Sullivan and Brian Lopez, and featuring several of the Old Pueblo’s best players - well, your loss. Using the basic template developed in Peru in the 1960s of mixing cumbia with American psychedelic and surf music and localized sounds, Chicha Dust have very quickly developed into one of Tucson’s best live acts, and the Austin crowd was completely bugged out. Following Chicha Dust was left to Tesoro, who more than stepped up and delivered a set of incredibly high energy, passionate Flamenco-rock that took the room energy even higher, before giving the stage back to Gabe Sullivan and his huge Taraf de Tucson collective. Taraf’s big-band mix of cumbia, Balkan and spaghetti Western themed rock pretty much blew the crowd down, playing to a ever-more-packed dance floor that had been filled to capacity for hours already. Fortunately, one of Tucson’s only acts capable of following Taraf, Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta, were on next and somehow managed to take it up to an even higher level of intensity. Sergio and his band of ringers really brought it all to a sustained crescendo, playing a show that would be hard for anyone at the Festival to follow, one of the only real positive ways of looking at the last hour, when headliners Giant Giant Sand didn’t appear in any form that the crowd was clearly expecting.

You may have already heard it by now: for whatever reason, Giant Giant Sand mainstay/front man/singer/songwriter Howe Gelb wasn’t present in the club, instead Skypeing himself in via video link to a huge screen over the stage for a very short short set while Gabe Sullivan and Brian Lopez (on guitar) and Sergio Mendoza (on drums) did their best to follow along on stage. It was...odd, and clearly very disappointing for a good size crowd who had come to see Giant Giant Sand play the heavily coveted, Festival final, 1 p.m. on Saturday night time slot. Gelb has made a career out of defying any expectations and always finding a new approach to his music, band concept, etc., and this was certainly another dramatic deviation from any expectation. Howe is, of course, free to follow his own path where-ever it may lead. Beyond that, whether it was wise or satisfying or any number of o - Carl Hanni, Tucson Weekly

The palpitating sounds of rumba flamenco will resonate at the Rialto Theatre Friday night with Tucson's Tesoro and friends.

While the electrifying music of Southern Spain is rare in Southern Arizona, the flamenco-fueled Tesoro will fill the void.

Billed as "Noche de Flamenco Musica y Danza with Tesoro," Friday's all-ages show also includes flamenco/classical/tango guitarist Gabriel Ayala and his trio, Belly Dance Tucson troupe, flamenco dancer Macarena Giraldez and mariachi trumpet player Ruben Moreno. Tesoro will present a mix of original and standards.

For Justin Fernandez, Tesoro's co-founder, the flamenco dance and music show will be a fun, lively night among friends.

"Couldn't be more excited about it," said Fernandez, who plays guitar and sings. Other member of Tesoro include co-founder Brian Scott on guitar, co-founder Andrew McClarron on bass, cajon and vocals, lead vocalist Efisio Giordanelli and Gabriel Kaiser on drums and cajon.

Another featured artist will perform with a paint brush. Jessica Gonzales, a local muralist, will work on a mural during Tesoro's set.

For Tesoro, one of the highlights will be performing with Ayala, an award-winning guitarist who has performed across the country. Ayala will perform with his trio and will share the stage with Tesoro.

"He continues to do innovative things," Fernandez said of Ayala who also incorporates jazz styling into his music.

Tesoro, too, incorporates other rhythms and genres in its version of flamenco rumba. With two guitars and two percussionists, Tesoro fuses rock and jazz riffs along with its Andalusian rooted music.

The group has two live recordings, 2011's "Live in Studio 2A," recorded at KXCI-FM, and last year's "Live at Hotel Congress." The group is preparing its first studio release at Waterworks Recording Studio.

Fernandez said the yet-to-be-named recording is expected to be released in September.

"Everything is coming together," Fernandez said.

If you go

• What: Noche de Flamenco Musica y Danza with Tesoro.

• When: 8 p.m. Friday.

• Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

• Cost: Tickets: $12, all ages.

Ernesto "Neto" Portillo Jr. is editor of La Estrella de Tucsón. He can be reached at 573-4187 or at netopjr@azstarnet.com - Ernesto Portillo Jr., Arizona Daily Star

By Kevin Downey

The Republic | azcentral.com

Wed Jan 9, 2013 4:00 PM

Music lovers have been heading to downtown Scottsdale on balmy winter days for more than a quarter-century to hear free concerts at Sunday A’Fair.

But it’s the organizers’ penchant for mixing up musical styles and performers that keeps the event fresh.

“There are some die-hard regulars who come every year,” said Abbey Messmer, Sunday A’Fair organizer. “And there are people who just kind of wander in. It’s so easy to get pulled in because it’s a very casual event.”

Tesoro, a Tucson-based flamenco-rock fusion group, will headline the concert series’ opening day, Jan. 13. It will be the group’s first time at Sunday A’Fair.

“There’s a hint of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd in our music, but with Spanish rumba rhythms and other traditional flamenco pieces,” said Justin Fernandez, Tesoro’s lead singer and guitar player. “It’s definitely a unique twist on flamenco. We do a few covers and original pieces, both instrumental and vocal.”

Each concert takes place in the Scottsdale Civic Center Park, right outside the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, which is open for free during the concerts. Other events include activities for kids and vendors with arts, crafts, food and beverages for sale.

On Jan. 20, Sunday A’Fair celebrates Peace and Community Day with RastaFarmers, a rock-dancehall-Afro-beat band. The group opens for Jan Sandwich Band, a jazz group that performs music from the American Songbook.

“This is a collaboration with the city, which holds a dinner and fundraiser to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” Messmer said. “As part of that, we dedicate Sunday A’Fair to Peace and Community Day. We like to talk about Martin Luther King Jr. at the event, and we have peace-related kids activities.”

Over the festival’s run, the music styles range from gospel to traditional Irish to R&B.

“We also bring back fan favorites,” Messmer said. “The crowd goes wild for bands like Cold Shott & the Hurricane Horns (who perform Feb. 24). Their opening band is Rooster Coupe Deville, which just got together.”

On March 3, Sunday A’Fair goes punk.

“I rotate the bands to keep it new,” Messmer said. “This year, we have a group from Colorado called the Photo Atlas. They’re out of the normal range of what we do. They’ll bring in the younger crowd. Their tagline is ‘Stinging post-punk powered by racing dance rhythms.”

On St. Patrick’s Day, March17, New Orleans-style Bad Cactus Brass Band and the Irish rock group Keltic Cowboys will get the crowd jumping with lively, loud, fun music.

Sunday A’Fair wraps up its 26th season on April 7 with “OrigiNation: A Festival of Native Cultures,” a celebration of Native American culture.
- Kevin Downey Arizona Republic

Downtown's Casa Vicente Restaurante Espanol has re-opened after its much-needed summer break.

On Thursday, catch classical guitarist Edu Costa perform; on Friday,Tesoro Flamenco, an award winning local flamenco fusion band, will perform, followed on Saturday flamenco guitarist Chris Burton Jacome.

Performances are from 6 to 9 p.m. each night at the restaurant, 375 S. Stone. Restaurant hours: 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission to the performances is free; reservations are recommended by calling 884-5253.

- Arizona Daily Star

Yes, we know, Fun Fun Fun Fest only just finished, but the busy beavers over at SXSW Music have just announced their opening salvo of bands for 2013. If you're interested in playing, don't worry: Applications end today, so you still have a few hours.
You can submit yuour application online through the end of today (ignore the old deadline of Nov.7. Read the instructions carefully (this late in the day, there's no do-overs) and have the $40 application fee ready.
Oh, and if you have a few extra dollars knocking around spare, drop them in the SXSW Hurricane Sandy Relief coffers. Considering how many great bands have played the festival from out of the areas most heavily hit by the storm, it's a real chance to help some old friends who may be suffering still.

Now, for the bands! Hardcore fans rejoice, as the new-look Gallows (less punk, more smash) bring the carnage. There's some Fun Fun Fun friends in attendance, with Brendon Benson and Why? back already. And of course, it wouldn't be SX without some old regulars like Dash Rip Rock taking the stage.

There's the expected huge number of foreign acts, but a special prize for furthest away visitor probably has to go to DJ Hashback Hashish from New Delhi, India.

And it would never be SXSW without a huge local contingent. Deep breath: The Black and White Years, Black Pistol Fire, The Boxing Lesson, Brutal Juice, The Calm Blue Sea, Crooks, Driver Friendly, Elias Haslanger, Gato 6, Colin Gilmore, Jess Klein, Language Room, League of Extraordinary G’z, My Education, My Jerusalem, Quiet Company, The Rocketboys, Danny Schmidt, Shakey Graves, The Sour Notes, and Carolyn Wonderland. Phew.

Here's the full list so far: Expect a huge number more to be added, and at least a few to drop out (*sniff* Therapy? we missed you this year. Come baaaaaaack!)

Akron/Family (Los Angeles CA)
Albatross (Kathmandu NEPAL)
Alt-J (Cambridge UK-ENGLAND)
Lauren Aquilina (Bristol UK-ENGLAND)
Atlas Genius (Adelaide SA)
Attomica (Sao Paulo BRAZIL)
Authorities (Vancouver BC)
Autosalvage (Santa Cruz CA)
The Away Days (TURKEY)
Daniel Bachman (Fredericksburg VA)
BADBADNOTGOOD (Toronto ON)
Baishui (CHINA)
Bastille (London UK-ENGLAND)
Battleme (Portland OR)
Bernhoft (Nittedal NORWAY)
The Black and White Years (Austin TX)
The Blackout (Cardiff UK-WALES)
Black Pistol Fire (Austin TX)
Blackstone Rangers (Dallas TX)
The Blue Van (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers (San Francisco CA)
BNegão & Seletores de Frequência (Rio De Janeiro BRAZIL)
Boats (Winnipeg MB)
The Boxing Lesson (Austin TX)
Jesse Boykins III (New York NY)
Brendan Benson (Nashville TN)
Broncho (Norman OK)
Brothers In Law (Pesaro ITALY)
Brutality Will Prevail (Cardiff UK-WALES)
Brutal Juice (Austin TX)
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown (Nashville TN)
Buck 65 (Toronto ON)
The Bug (London UK-ENGLAND)
Eric Burdon (Brooklyn NY)
Tego Calderon (San Juan PUERTO RICO)
The Calm Blue Sea (Austin TX)
Campo (Montevideo URUGUAY)
Cave Painting (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)
Cayucas (San Luis Obisbo CA)
Cello Fury (Pittsburgh PA)
Chaos Chaos (Brooklyn NY)
Cheers Elephant (Philadelphia PA)
The Chevelles (North Fremantle WA)
Charlotte Church ( UK-WALES)
Churchill (Denver CO)
CINE (Sao Paulo BRAZIL)
Civil Twilight (Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA)
Chris Cohen (Shaftsbury VT)
Coldcut (London UK-ENGLAND)
Congo Natty (London UK-ENGLAND)
The Congregation (Chicago IL)
Constantina (Belo Horizonte BRAZIL)
John Cooper Clarke (Manchester UK-ENGLAND)
Crooks (Austin TX)
Current Swell (Victoria BC)
Dash Rip Rock (New Orleans LA)
Sammy Decoster (Grenoble FRANCE)
Dels (London UK-ENGLAND)
Mac DeMarco (Montreal QC)
Luther Dickinson (Hernando MS)
DJ Edu (London UK-ENGLAND)
Dolores Boys (Brooklyn NY)
Doyle (San Antonio TX)
Driver Friendly (Austin TX)
Drop The Lime (New York NY)
Ben Dukes (Hollywood CA)
The Dunwells (Leeds UK-ENGLAND)
Dusted (Toronto ON)
Eagulls (Leeds UK-ENGLAND)
Tim Easton (Nashville TN)
Elias Haslanger (Austin TX)
Ronnie Fauss (Dallas TX)
Fear Of Men (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)
Fister (St Louis MO)
Follakzoid (Santiago CHILE)
fo/mo/deep (Columbus OH)
Forests (Taipei TAIWAN)
Fredda (Paris FRANCE)
Funeral Suits (Dublin IRELAND)
Ezra Furman (San Francisco CA)
Galaxy Express (Seoul SOUTH KOREA)
Gallows (Watford UK-ENGLAND)
Gato 6 (Austin TX)
Ghost to Falco (Portland OR)
GHXST (New York NY)
Colin Gilmore (Austin TX)
Gliss (Los Angeles CA)
Gold Fields (Ballarat VIC)
Jenn Grant (Halifax NS)
Guards (New York NY)
Haim (Los Angeles CA)
Hashback Hashish (New Delhi INDIA)
Hawthorne Heights (Dayton OH)
Heidi Happy (Luzern SWITZERLAND)
Ryan Hemsworth (Halifax NS)
He's My Brother She's My Sister (Los Angeles CA)
Hexvessel (Helsinki FINLAND)
Highasakite (Oslo NORWAY)
Hiss Golden Messenger (Chapel Hill NC)
The Holydrug Couple (Santiago CHILE)
Holy Esque (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND - Richard Whittaker The Austin Chronicle

THE BIG STUFF

Band/Entertainer of the Year
LeeAnne Savage (R): 28.7 percent

Runners up:
2. Silver Thread Trio (C): 25.5 percent
3. Brian Lopez (C): 16 percent
4. Ryanhood (R): 11.9 percent
5. Broken Romeo (R): 9 percent
6. Lenguas Largas (C): 8.7 percent

Up-and-Comers:
Boreas (C, R): 24.7 percent

Runners up:
2. Saint Maybe (C): 23.2 percent
3. This Group of People (C): 21.9 percent
4. Young Hunter (C): 17.3 percent
5. Dream Sick (C): 13.2 percent

Best New Release
LeeAnne Savage, To the Nines (R): 29.8 percent

Runners up:
2. Tesoro, Live at Hotel Congress (R): 16.9 percent
3. Ryanhood, After Night Came Sun (R): 13.8 percent
4. Brian Lopez, Ultra (C): 12.7 percent
5. Gabriel Sullivan and Taraf de Tucson, None of This Is Mine (C): 10.2 percent
6. Various Artists, Luz de Vida (C): 9 percent
7. Lenguas Largas, Lenguas Largas (C): 7.6 percent


PERFORMANCE AWARDS

Blues
Tom Walbank (C, R): 34.8 percent

Runners up:
2. Bad News Blues Band (R): 33.3 percent
3. Bryan Dean Trio (C, R): 31.9 percent

Bluegrass
Dusty Buskers (C, R): 42.2 percent

Runners up:
2. Cadillac Mountain (C, R): 25.7 percent
3. Greg Morton Band (C, R): 17.6 percent
4. Run Boy Run (C): 14.6 percent

Country/Western
LeeAnne Savage (R): 45.7 percent

Runners up:
2. Al Perry (C): 24.2 percent
3. Cochise County All Stars (C): 15.5 percent
4. Hank Topless (C): 13.8 percent

Cover Band
80’s and Gentlemen (R): 23.9 percent

Runners up:
2. Top Dead Center (R): 16.3 percent
3. Whole Lotta Zep (C): 16.2 percent
4. Atom Heart Mother (C): 15.5 percent
5. The Zsa Zsas (C): 14.7 percent
6. Vintage Sugar (R): 13.4 percent

DJ
Matt McCoy (C, R): 35.3 percent

Runners up:
2. Kidd Kutz (R): 30.9 percent
3. Carl Hanni (C): 13.1 percent
4. Herm (C): 12 percent
5. Bonus (C): 8.7 percent

Electronic
… music video? (C, R): 28 percent

Runners up:
2. Leather Clutch (R): 25.3 percent
3. Zackey Force Funk (C): 19.6 percent
4. Altrice (C, R): 13.7 percent
5. CrimeKillz (C): 13.3 percent

Folk
Silver Thread Trio (C, R): 34.4 percent

Runners up:
2. Ryanhood (R): 16.3 percent
3. The Tangelos (R): 15.6 percent
4. Amber Norgaard (R): 13.1 percent
5. Dylan Charles (C): 12.4 percent
6. Namoli Brennet (C): 8.2 percent

Funk/Soul
Kiss and the Tells (C): 24.5 percent

Runners up:
2. The AmoSphere (C, R): 20.3 percent
3. Kate Becker and the Zodiacs (C): 18.9 percent
4. 8 Minutes to Burn (R): 18.3 percent
5. Funky Bonz (C, R): 17.8 percent

Hip Hop
The Project (R): 39.9 percent

Runners up:
2. Shaun Harris (C, R): 31.0 percent
3. Isaiah Toothtaker (C): 17.3 percent
4. Big Meridox (C): 11.7 percent

Jazz
The Tryst (R): 34.9 percent

Runners up:
2. Collin Shook Trio (C, R): 17.8 percent
3. The Black Jackalope Ensemble (C): 16.5 percent
4. Jazz Telephone (C, R): 16.2 percent
5. Matt Mitchell/Hot Club of Tucson (C): 14.6 percent

Latin Jazz/Salsa
Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta (C, R): 37.8 percent

Runners up:
2. Tesoro (R): 21.8 percent
3. Salvador Duran (C): 16.3 percent
4. Combo Westside (C): 9.7 percent
5. A Son y Sol (C): 9 percent
6. Reno del Mar (R): 5.4 percent

Mariachi
Aztlan de Pueblo High School (C, R): 37.1 percent

Runners up:
2. Luz de Luna (C, R): 33.9 percent
3. Tesoro de Tucson (C): 29 percent

Metal
Stands With Fists (R): 41 percent

Runners up:
2. Young Hunter (C): 27.4 percent
3. Anakim (C): 16.9 percent
4. The Gallery (C): 14.7 percent

Punk
Acorn Bcorn (C): 22.7 percent

Runners up:
2. Deceptively Innocent (R): 20.1 percent
3. Lenguas Largas (C): 18.8 percent
4. Lariats (R): 15.3 percent
5. Church Key (C): 11.7 percent
6. Ultramaroon (C): 11.4 percent

Reggae/Ska
Neon Prophet (C, R): 56.6 percent

Runners up:
2. Planet Jam (C, R): 30.1 percent
3. Skitn (C, R): 13.4 percent

Rock
Broken Romeo (R): 22.6 percent

Runners up:
2. The Whiskey Knuckles (R): 21.4 percent
3. Mr. Free and the Satellite Freakout (C): 21.3 percent
4. Seashell Radio (C): 19.8 percent
5. HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS (C): 14.9 percent

Roots Rock/Rockabilly
The El Camino Royales (C, R): 46.1 percent

Runners up:
2. Al Foul (C, R): 30.7 percent
3. Last Call Brawlers (C): 23.2 percent

Tejano
Hollywood Knights (C, R): 35.4 percent

Runners up:
2. Los Gallegos (C): 25.1 percent
3. The Festival Band (R): 15.7 percent
4. Suerte (R): 15.3 percent
5. Relente (R): 8.5 percent

World
Batucaxé (C, R): 27.4 percent

Runners up:
2. Gabriel Sullivan and Taraf de Tucson (C): 25.4 percent
3. Spirit Familia (C): 20 percent
4. Vox Urbana (C): 13.7 percent
5. Key Ingredients of African Soul (C): 13.6 percent


MUSICIANS AWARDS

Female Vocalist
LeeAnne Savage (R): 33.1 percent

Runners up:
2. Silver Thread Trio (C): 21 percent
3. Keli Carpenter (The Tryst) (C, R): 15.8 percent
4. Sabra Faulk (C): 13.5 percent
5. Katherine Byrnes (Sweet Ghosts, Michael P.’s Big Band) (C): 9.8 percent - Jimmy Boegle Tucson Weekly

Description of performance focus: Tesoro, which in Spanish translates to "treasure", "gift", or can even be interpreted, as a "gift from the heart" is just that for this five-member Tucson ensemble. Their musical influences ranging from famous Flamenco performers and guitarists such as The Gypsy Kings, Vicente Amigo and Paco de Lucia to classic rockers Van Halen and Led Zeppelin to Cuban and Brazilian beats and styles, Tesoro is an interesting, compelling blend of traditional Flamenco with a modern, younger edge. By combining traditional aspects of Flamenco, such as the guitars, the traditional Flamenco time signature as well as beats, with their own interpretation of the Flamenco style, this group really appeals to both old and new generation audiences alike. The two guitarists, a bass guitarist and two percussionists coalesce into a rocking, moving musical identity. Michael Solomon, one of the percussionists, uses some African and other drums that are nontraditional to the Flamenco sound yet blend so perfectly to make a modern and interesting fusion.

Their larger performances often include famous Flamenco dancers, which also preserve a traditional aspect of the art. The objective of their performances is to provide others with inspiration, and, like their names suggests, giving their audience the gift of music. Guitarist Brian Scott claims he plays to help others forget about any problems they may have and to spread his own love for the passionate art of Flamenco. At one Tesoro’s regular performances at Club Congress, the atmosphere is both intimate and transforming. The audience is unable to take its eyes away from one of Brian Scott’s amazing guitar rifts or the interaction of Flamenco dancer and music. The conclusion of a show leaves one in awe of the passion of Flamenco and especially Tesoro’s illumination of it. As Brian had hoped, an audience member truly receives the gift of inspiration, love and passion that is inherent in the Flamenco style.

Style of Music/Dance: While the group wants to, as manager Alan Thomas notes, "respect the cultural and developmental aspects of the music as well as the history", they also give Flamenco their own style and flare and appeal to music lovers of all ages. Flamenco is an amazingly passionate art form, not just with the musical instruments, but also equally with the Flamenco dance. Its history is rich and full of the ideas associated with Southern Spain - love, passion, music, and dance. Deriving from the Andalusian region of Southern Spain, this art form is thought to have originated as early as in the 16th century and has been preserved by oral transmission through the centuries. Flamenco can be thought of as a mixture of Moorish, Gypsy, Jewish as well as indigenous Andalusian cultures, which is one aspect that makes both Flamenco and Andalucia such an exotic and passionate place. Traditionally, Flamenco has been a musical outlet of the poor and oppressed: Spaniards, who were traditional Catholics, often battled with and suppressed the Jewish, Gypsy, and Arab populations in this region. Yet the presence of these groups can be seen through the music. The Flamenco style traditionally combines dance, guitar and song as well as rhythmic punctuations, such as the handclaps. While Tesoro currently features the guitar and dance aspects of flamenco, they are working on adding vocals to their next album, which should be out early 2006. The style that composes Tesoro’s unique sound is multi-faceted, with tricky time signatures, various finger styles, and percussive taps, all of which are very different from traditional guitar techniques. Tesoro also employs rock and jazz influences that vary from the strictly traditional sound found in Spain. Yet their sound is distinctly Flamenco, and causes one to want to move with the rhythms and take part in this tradition.

Training and Background of the performers: Justin Fernandez, one of the two leads guitarists, began his musical career with piano. He declares that it was his sister’s Flamenco dancing which immediately caught his interest, inspiring him to switch to guitar. He took lessons from a Flamenco guitar teacher in Tucson and met Brian Scott in a high school music class.

Brian, at his mother’s prompting, began classical guitar at the young age of five, complete with recitals and competitions. Although his grandmother played piano, Brian has no other strong family musical influences. Yet this did not stop him from becoming one of the best flamenco guitarists in Tucson, if not elsewhere. Alan Thomas and others have referred to Brian as a guitar prodigy because of his immense skill and mastery of techniques. As a teenager, he gravitated towards heavy metal, but when he heard Justin playing flamenco in their guitar class, Brian was drawn to the pure power and the immense technical skills required for this art. As is apparent from Tesoro’s performances, his skill is truly exceptional and inspirational.

Andrew - The University of Arizona

LOCAL CALL
For nearly a decade Don Jennings has been bringing local music to the airwaves during his Tuesday-night show on (91.3) KXCI-FM, Locals Only. To illustrate just how long that is, consider that when he began, many of us didn't even own personal computers; today listeners around the world can soak in our local music landscape via streaming technology. We've come a long way, baby.
Somewhere along the line KXCI began releasing a series of CDs documenting the live recordings made in its Studio 2A. With proceeds from sales going back into radio production costs, the discs fall into two categories: those featuring national acts (Live from Studio 2A), and those containing material recorded by local acts for Jennings' show (Locals Only: Live From Studio 2A). This week the station releases the latest in the latter series, 91.3 FM KXCI Presents: Locals Only Volume 4.

The CD contains 16 tracks that represent a wide array of genres by local artists, from the melodic acoustic pop of Ryanhood ("Welcome You Into My Head") to the feel-good reggae of SKITN ("When the Morning Comes"), the nuevo Latino sounds of Tesoro ("Mohave Road") to the French cabaret pop of Marianne Dissard and Naim Amor. Also found on the disc are songs by Redlands, Andrew Collberg, Howe Gelb and Freakwater, Combo Westside, Salvador Duran, Found Dead on the Phone, The Jons, Courtney Robbins, Feta and Shiraz, Fukuisan Go!, Duo Sonido and, in a bit of a stretch on the local theme, the Meat Puppets' Curt Kirkwood (who used to live in the Phoenix area, but has lived in Austin, Texas, for the last several years).

As we all know by now, no local CD can be released without the requisite CD release party, and this one is no exception. Timed--coincidentally or not--to come at the end of another one of those seemingly interminable yet necessary pledge drives, the celebration takes place at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., on Friday, Feb. 2. From 6 to 8 p.m. in the front lounge Duo Sonido will perform, then things move into the back room for performances from (in descending order of appearance) Found Dead on the Phone, Salvador Duran, Ryanhood, SKITN, Andrew Collberg, Courtney Robbins, Redlands, Marianne Dissard and Naim Amor and Tesoro. Five bucks gets you in the door, but be sure to bring some extra cash for a copy of the CD. For more information, call 798-1298.




FOR THE LOVE OF LARRY
From casual fans to working musicians, the members of our local music community are mostly benevolent souls willing to step up to the plate when circumstances make it necessary. This weekend presents the unfortunate opportunity to do so once again.
If you've ever imbibed in The Tap Room at Hotel Congress, chances are pretty darn good you've been served a drink by Larry Horvath, who also plays bass in Great American Tragedy and is the proud father of a son, Aidan. A couple weeks ago Horvath became suddenly and seriously ill, and was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with viral meningitis. He was released fairly quickly, but had to return to the hospital later, as his symptoms were not improving--if anything they were getting worse. Thus, Horvath has been unable to work for more than two weeks, an awfully long time without pay for someone with a child to support and mounting medical costs.

Thus, four local bands will be performing a show this weekend with proceeds being donated directly to Horvath. The For the Love of Larry Benefit Show will feature sets by Chango Malo, Mankind, The Year of Acceleration and The Provocative Whites. The event begins at 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Cover charge is a suggested donation of $5, but you can bet the folks at the door won't be disappointed if you'd like to give a little bit more. For further details, call 622-8848.




FLY SPEC
The world of heavy rock, metal, whatever you want to call it, is mostly populated and listened to by teenage boys who blog their woes away on their MySpace pages. Testosterone and heartbreak are a dangerous combination, it seems.
But like other bands such as Kittie and Lacuna Coil, Flyleaf is the rare animal in the genre with a female frontperson--singer and lyricist Lacey Mosley. The Texas-based band is still on the road promoting its self-titled debut full-length, released in 2005 on Octone. Following the band's relentless touring, including a recent stint with Disturbed and Stone Sour, the album was certified gold at the end of 2006. While the disc isn't musically groundbreaking, with its mix of radio-ready big riffs and vocals that veer from hummable melodies to throat-scraping growls (imagine a cross between Kittie and Evanescence), it's still a bit jarring to hear those growls emanate from a woman. Here's wishing for the day when Flyleaf isn't notable for that reason.

Flyleaf performs Thursday, Feb. 8, at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. The all-ages show starts at 6:30 p.m. with opening sets by Head Trip and Tridon. Advance ticket - Stephen Seigel Tucson Weekly

When the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council lost much of its funding in 2009 due to the double whammy of the recession and a shift in the town of Oro Valley's arts funding policy, executive director Kate Marquez saw opportunity rather than disappointment.

Marquez led a paradigm shift that changed the organization from one that supported arts in the town through government funding to a self-reliant entity that would thrive by melding businesses, artists and audiences in unique, mutually beneficial events.

Instead of asking businesses for donations, Marquez and others in the organization figured, the nonprofit would find ways to boost its brand and bottom line by associating it with artists that crowds wanted to see.

By expanding out of Oro Valley, artists would have more venues to reach supporters, and most importantly, crowds would find the most invaluable reward: "Fun!" as Marquez puts it.

The Greater Oro Valley Arts Council did die, in a sense, when the funding dried up. But with its rebirth as the Southern Arizona Arts & Culture Alliance (SAACA), it became much more influential and successful, promoting events in all corners of the Tucson metropolitan area.

Marquez said the organization's credo is "Let's just try it."

"We fall on our faces a lot," she said, "but we'll try anything once. We don't live in the clouds thinking we can do anything."

These days, the SAACA name is synonymous with good times. Revelers plan their social calendars around its Festival of the Arts, Arts in the Plaza Fine Arts and Jazz Festival, Southern Arizona Salsa and Tequila Challenge and Jazz Legends Live.

In the fiscal year that ended in June the organization stabilized its budget, seeing corporate donations rise 20 percent and revenue rise 27 percent. Its squad of six employees and more than 150 volunteers provided about 100 event showcases for more than 1,000 artists and 500 paid gigs for 400 local musicians.

As GOVAC, typical annual budgets were $300,000, with $250,000 coming from the Oro Valley government.

SAACA now operates on a budget of more than $800,000, all from public and private donations or agreements, with $10,000 coming from a state allocation and $5,000 from the Tucson Pima Arts Council.

SAACA events are the opposite of stuffy galleries.

"The gallery world is really different," Marquez said. "People relied on other people choosing to walk into the gallery with the intention of buying art as opposed to just hanging out and bringing art to public places."

SAACA aims to offer businesses a chance to try something different.

"Most organizations have been going through that the last few years, and we thought it would open a door for us," Marquez said. "The old models don't work anymore. That's why we have to think of a new one."

Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona spokesman Jack Parris said SAACA is invaluable for businesses and artists alike.

"I think they're a good resource," he said. "They seem to be able to take these events and put them on successfully, and that's not an easy thing to do. They promote them very well."

Musician Justin Fernandez, a guitarist and vocalist for the band Tesoro, said SAACA is key to connecting artists with audiences, as well as one another.

"It's pretty much wonderful in all facets of art and the creative community in Tucson," Fernandez said, adding that he's impressed with the inroads the organization is making in Phoenix.

"They understand the community well. They get involved and create events that are family-friendly, which is good for a number of acts," Fernandez said. "They allow people the opportunity to showcase in front of great crowds."

Singer/songwriter Amber Norgaard said SAACA gives crucial help to local artists and musicians.

"They do a really great job of supporting arts and music in Tucson - all of us local artisans," she said. "They do a great job as far as getting our music and art out there in the community, and just bringing the community together to celebrate."

Marquez said 2013 will be a big year for SAACA. The organization will promote more events in other parts of the state, including Casa Grande or Phoenix. But she said SAACA is committed to remaining based in Tucson.

Fernandez, for one, hopes SAACA stays true to its Southern Arizona roots.

"In Tucson, they're the musician's best friend," he said. "They stage great concert series and are great with advertising. It's a great thing for the community. They get involved in a number of ways. It's just tremendous."

Timeline

• 1997 - Oro Valley residents and volunteers Dick Eggerding and Bob Weede found the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (GOVAC).

• 1998 - GOVAC stages Tucson Symphony Orchestra Independence Day performance that draws 8,000 people.

• 2000 - GOVAC presents the first annual Art in Oro Valley exhibition and competition, eventually resulting in Southern Arizona's largest public gallery. Also, the organization stages its fir - Phil Villarreal Arizona Daily Star

Best Local Entertainer:

Joe Bourne (tie)
John C. Scott (tie)
Paul Jenkins and Ryan Jenkins (tie)
Tesoro (tie)
- Tucson Lifestyle Magazine

Resistance is futile, the songs are too bewitching. The album consists of gorgeous notes adroitly composed and negoitated, sauntering from the enticing seduction of flamenco to jazz sensibilities. Tesoro calls it Flamenco Fusion. I dig that they fused in Tool's forty-six & 2 along with saluting Paco de Lucia, Chris Burton Jacome, and Tito Puente.

It's been over five years since Tesoro issued a disk, and the party takes place on July 9 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Sullivan's Steakhouse and Bar, 1785 E. River Rd. Other summer dates include: July 13, 29, 30 at Casa Vicente, 340 S. Stone Ave.; July 22, August 20, 26 at Hacienda del Sol, 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Rd.; August 27 at La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Dr.

TesoroTucson.com has the details. - Zocalo Tucson Magazine

The flourishing arpeggios of Spanish guitars will crash--and probably melt--into the headlong lurch of Eastern European folk music at Nimbus Brewing Company on Saturday night, April 2.
That's when Tucson bands Tesoro and Molehill Orkestrah will do "battle" by alternating song for song during a 90-minute extravaganza. The evening will include, for good measure, the percussive stomp of Tesoro's flamenco-dance auxiliary (choreographed by Sophie Everett) and the fantastical fire spectacle of Flam Chen.

A total of 28 local performing artists will participate, says the event's tireless organizer, Paul Weir, a member of the Flam Chen troupe.

"It's definitely got that 'battle of the bands' feeling, but this show is also meant to showcase the depth of Tucson's performing artists," Weir says. "And it is being presented in the spirit of the films of Emir Kusturica."

Kusturica is the Bosnian filmmaker whose films--such as the acclaimed The Time of the Gypsies and Black Cat, White Cat--are heavily steeped in absurd images and rich Balkan gypsy music. "I view (Kusturica's) films like harnessed chaos," Weir says. "That's part of what we hope to create with this event.

Among other things, the evening is being billed as "Tesoro vs. Molehill Orkestrah," calling to mind both a competition and the cut-and-paste musical collaborations of remix DJs. The subtitle "Lucha de las Familias Gitanes" weaves the imagery of Mexican professional wrestling with that of the rich gypsy culture.

While helping to produce some Tesoro performances last year, Weir had a vision of "a gypsy soap opera." He proposed the idea to all the groups involved, and they started working together about a month ago.

"This really seems like an unlikely fusion, but when it all comes together, it will make a lot of sense," he promises.

The performance will come with an air of drama, unfolding like a theater piece. "We've come up with two complete family scenarios for the bands," Weir says. "And when they meet, it'll be like a cross somewhere between Romeo and Juliet and Grease."

Emphasizing the spirit of cross-cultural influences, Molehill is planning to incorporate more Latin rhythms in its Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and klezmer sound, while Tesoro will focus on the Middle Eastern heritage behind its specialty of flamenco.

Each of the bands is in the process of recording new music projects, so Weir feels lucky to have lured them out of the studio.

The dancers and fire performers are crossing over, too, he says. "We've actually learned a little flamenco, and the dancers have learned a little bit how to handle fire."

Cultural collision is a hallmark of the shows that Weir often produces. A metal fabricator, designer, modern dancer and composer, Weir lately has been producing shows for Downtown Saturdays, the Tucson Arts Coalition and Flam Chen, including the hugely popular All Souls Day Procession each year just after Halloween.

"I tend to get involved in only stuff that I feel has heart and that people in Tucson really need to see," says Weir, who serves on the boards of four non-profit arts organizations.

With the 11-year-old fire-performance group Flam Chen, Weir expects to further promote the performing arts through the launching in 2006 of the Tucson International School of Circus and Performing Arts. "We hope to bring a lot of world-class teachers from all over the world to teach stilt walking, acrobatics, aerial arts, juggling and circus crafts, as well as yoga, martial arts and dance," he says.

Weir shares a goal with his fellow artists in the groups on Saturday night's bill: "to make Tucson known for amazing performing arts community ritual and celebration."

This weekend's show is not the first time some these groups will have collaborated, but it's definitely the most elaborate and far-reaching event in which all have been involved.

For instance, Flam Chen and Molehill Orkestrah toured through Canada last year performing the show The Monkey King. The two troupes performed to more than 200,000 people in three weeks, Weir says.

Proceeds from this Tesoro vs. Molehill event will benefit Radio Electra, a community radio station that broadcasts each year during Burning Man, the massive annual arts festival and temporary community that occurs in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Burning Man 2005 is scheduled for Aug. 29 through Sept. 5.

Although the doors at Nimbus open at 8 p.m., the "lucha" won't get underway until about 11, Weir says. In the meantime, there will be a fashion show and the screening of a movie about Burning Man.

Also, Flam Chen will operate a free shuttle to the event. It leaves the Epic Café, 745 N. Fourth Ave. and University Boulevard, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. The group BICAS (Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage) has organized a community bike ride to the event; it leaves 44 W. Sixth St. at 8 p.m.
- Tucson Weekly

A slender blonde went slinking through the crowd at Club Congress and sat at a small table at a corner of the stage, where a five-piece band was playing hot flamenco music spiked with jazz and rock licks. Soon, the woman was joined by a male figure; they sat together awhile, then stood and began to move with the music, their upper bodies shifting and posing in classical flamenco dance style.
But all was not well in Club Congress' Andalusian dream world. Two women in black, their hair pulled back severely, appeared on the dance floor below and began intense, rapid stamping patterns that signaled the presence either of flamenco dancers or of the construction crew at the Chicago Store down the street.

This pair looked like trouble, but they were nothing compared to a new dancer, her hair as wild as her ankles were precise. The dark pair sprinkled some glittery duende dust on the lovers, and the dour flamenco queen tried to split the couple, initially to no avail. But ultimately--well, this is flamenco; there's no such thing as happily ever after.

Unless, that is, you're a member of the band Tesoro, the local group behind the Saturday "gypsy flamenco theater" performances at Club Congress. Founded by a couple of guitar players fresh out of Salpointe High School, the popular Tesoro--whether as the guitar duo of Justin Fernandez and Brian Scott, or as the full ensemble--has become one of the most active bands in town. It plays for Sunday brunch and dinner at Hacienda del Sol, does four or five gigs a week at Sullivan's Steakhouse, squeezes in regular appearances at Zona 78, and since the beginning of this month has been doing the more theatrical productions Saturdays at 7:30 at Club Congress.

"We've got a cabaret thing going with sangria and tapas," says Hotel Congress manager David Slutes. "With these early shows, we're going after the nonsmoking demographic."

Unfortunately, the more successful the Congress shows become with the nonsmoking demographic, the less of a cabaret atmosphere there will be. Some of the tables will inevitably be moved out to create standing room for more bodies.

"I've always wanted to manage this kind of band," says Alan Thomas, the man who manages this band. "They're young guys who are passionate about gypsy-flamenco fusion. You don't find many other young players doing this; they're influenced by Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, and there's a rock flair to a lot of what they do, but at the same time, they can really hit the traditional flamenco."

Thomas is a partner in Ultra Groove Entertainment, an event and entertainment design company, which he returned to Tucson to operate after a stint in the Los Angeles music industry. Even before coming back to his home town, he'd heard about guitarists Scott and Fernandez, when they were playing under the name El Toro.

Fernandez started studying flamenco guitar when he was 14 or 15; as soon as he saw his sister perform in her flamenco dance class, he was hooked on the music. His parents were already into the Gipsy Kings and their progressive pop-oriented flamenco, a style known in Spain as Sevillana. In the late 1980s, the Gipsy Kings' departures from strict flamenco tradition riled hard-core aficionados, but it brought the general flamenco sound to a much wider audience than ever before. So did the German-born Ottmar Liebert, who incorporated South American percussion plus elements of pop, rock and jazz into his (admittedly not virtuosic) flamenco guitar playing. Liebert positioned flamenco as something more seductive than anguished and dangerous.

All this music was already playing in the Fernandez household when young Justin teamed up with another student in his Salpointe guitar class, Brian Scott.

"I was doing Nirvana when I was 12 or 13," Scott says. "In high school, I was doing heavy metal and death metal. But then I saw Justin play, and I knew I had to try flamenco, too. It's pretty much the hardest style you can play on the guitar, because the right-hand rhythms are so complicated."

The two started jamming together, picking up elements from one another's musical influences, but in public (such as gigs at the Westward Look), they stuck pretty much to pure flamenco style. Then the band started growing, and new members Andrew McClarron (bass), Ruben Palma (percussion) and Aleksey Login (drums) brought new ideas.

Says Fernandez, now 22, "I don't listen to much Spanish music anymore. I'm getting more ideas from rock'n'roll and classic rock."

Yet this seems not to appall many old-school flamenco fans. "There's one guy who follows us around who's a real flamenco connoisseur," says Fernandez. "He's studied all the traditional players, and knows everything about their work. But he can still come in and groove to us.

"Our music is more intricate, with more ups and downs of moods, and it incorporates lots of melody--that's why we don't have to work with vocalists."

Everything really fell into pl - Tucson Weekly