Juerga at Bodega. March 13, 2009
Marylin, Claudia, Dario, Marcela and Miguelito at Bodega's outdoor patio. March 14, 2009 12:30am
It's 3:30pm on Monday as I type these words. For the first time I'm working on my website in a Starbucks using a netbook. It's so liberating to finally get out of the house! In any case, my battery is about to poop out so (as usual) this will be quickie blog entry with minimal commentary.
Last Friday (the 13th!!!), my friend Naíto hosted a juerga at Bodega in honor of local guitarrista Ramin to celebrate his birthday. I was doing my usual flamenco gig with dancer Ginette Perea and singer Hector Márquez a few blocks away at Cabanas so I didn't arrive at the juerga until 11pm (it started at 9pm) and as expected the party was already in full swing (albeit in the cold) at the outdoor patio of Bodega. It wasn't so bad since there were some outdoor heaters, not to mention the inner warmth generated by the delicious sangría. :-)
Singer Hector Márquez accompanied by Naíto on guitar in Bodega's Matador Room. Other faces I recognize include Milagros, Jason, Antonia (waving), Denise, Angela, Daniela and Mutsuko. March 14, 2009 12:33am
While Hector and Naíto migrated the party indoors, I remained in the patio with a few dancers and played a few sevillanas (sans cante) for a few coplas before we all headed to Bodega's Matador Room to join the bulerías jam session in progress.
I wasn't really in my usual photojournalistic mode that night, but I took a few portraits of the people who made the effort to come out on this cold night...
Jason Vera y Aragón and Antonia. March 14, 2009 12:41am
Marcela and Marylin. March 14, 2009 12:42am
Claudia, Marcela and Marylin. March 14, 2009 12:42am
Denise and Marco. March 14, 2009 1:06am
Dario, Claudia, Marcela and Marylin. March 14, 2009 1:06am
Ximena, Mutsuko and Milagros. March 14, 2009 1:10am
Ximena, Milagros and Miguelito. March 14, 2009 1:34am
Antonia and Denise. March 14, 2009 1:38am
With having many performers as friends, the ongoing dilemma with scheduling parties is finding a night when everyone is available to come. José and César Oretea (aka Duende Camarón) were performing at La Tasca Old Town until midnight and finally arrived at 1:00am and contributed their musical gifts for the final hour of the juerga until 2:00am when we all finally left the premises and went our separate ways. Fun night!
César, Ramin and José in front of Bodega. March 14, 2009 2:27am
P.S. As for tonight (Monday), I'll be performing at Café Citrón with singer José Oretea and dancer Sara Jerez and most likely going to Ozio afterwards. See you there!
P.P.S. Lately I've been learning some falsetas by José Tanaka via YouTube. Check it out!
P.P.P.S. This weekend Virginia Commonwealth University (aka VCU) is presenting its first Flamenco Festival featuring Paco de Málaga, Marija Temo, Edwin Aparicio et al. Checkout the blog entry about when yours truly performed at VCU in 2007.
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