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Claudio Collino has partnered with the talented gutarist Alberto de Almar in the project composing and arranging a flamenco inspired album where melody and style are taken to the highest level with Alberto's performance. This music could be described as a unique contemporary flamenco, a harmonic and spirited synthesis of styles that encompasses the cerebral flow of jazz, the hard-edged energy of rock, the reluctant restraint of classical and the sensual and exhilarating passion of traditional flamenco. One might call it a "Flamenco Paella of sorts-melodic nourishment for the hungry soul". It will open the listeners mind to a new flamenco dimension, more melodic with a modern world music style that takes you on a journey through the roots of flamenco towards eclectic influences blending with grace and passion from east to west, the crossing of pueblos, religions and cultures that give rise to a new type of music mixing Arabic, Greek, Italian tarantellas, gregorian chants, romances of the Spanish castles, sephardic laments to Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, rain forest environments, argentinian tango and peruvian melodies and sound flavors. The song of the night, the accents of the gypsy pueblo, that comes from the distant India, finds itself in Spain and then mixes with a blend of cultures finally to form the mythical structure that today we call modern flamenco and expresses itself as no other music, the song, the dance and the rhythm. ALBERTO ANTONIO DE ALMAR Alberto describes his unique contemporary flamenco style as follows: "I think of my music as a harmonic and spirited synthesis of styles that encompasses the cerebral flow of jazz, the hard-edged energy of rock, the reluctant restraint of classical and the sensual and exhilarating passion of traditional flamenco. One might call it a "Flamenco Paella of sorts-melodic nourishment for the hungry soul". Alberto de Almar's journey into the world of flamenco music and culture began in Miami, FLA., when he was given his first guitar by his ant from Spain at age of 11. After mastering rock, jazz and classical guitar style, he wrote and performed with various group at clubs, concerts and festivals, opening for such bands as THE ALMAN BROS., THE GRATEFUL DEAD, EDGAR and JOHNNY WINTER, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, THE BLUES IMAGE, NRBQ and others. Alberto supplemented his performances teaching classical and jazz guitar and music theory and the University of Florida and Dade Jr. College and obtaining a degree in pharmacy. Alberto's reputation as a young, versatile and innovative guitarist caught the attention of FRANK ZAPPA who invited him to L.A. where he performed and recorded with TERRY BOSIO, DON PRESTON, IAN UNDERWOOD, FREDDY HUBBARD, MINNY RIPPERTEN, JACO PASTORIUS and several other prominent musicians on various recordings. During his stay in L.A. he was introduced to the emotionally charged world of flamenco music by his cousin JORGE STRUNZ of STRUNZ & FARAH. While he continued to work in the L.A. rock scene he diligently pursued his passion for flamenco and created his own unique style, integrating contemporary characteristics of rock and jazz with traditional flamenco. Two years later he traveled to Spain and was introduced to PACO DE LUCIA , considered to be the best contemporary flamenco guitarist in the world. Alberto stayed in Spain and worked with PACO transcribing and copyrighting PACO's original compositions including the guitar arrangements on CHICK COREA's album "TOUCHSTONE". Under PACO tutelage, Alberto's guitar talent flourished as did his reputation as a prolific transcriber and Alberto found himself transcribing for other renowned flamenco artists such as guitarist PEPE DE LUCIA, ENRIQUE DE MELCHOR and vocalist CAMARON DE LA ISLA. At the invitation of the guitar legend who composed much of the music for national ballet of Spain, MANOLO SANLUCAR, Alberto spent the next 3 years touring and performing throughout Spain during which he performed on three occasions for the KING and QUEEN of Spain. He recorded 2 albums with MANOLO, "AL VIENTO" and "VEN Y SIGEME", which was comissioned by the Spanish governement as a national dedication to POPE JOHN PAUL THE II. Alberto and MANOLO were also featured in the acclaimed "LA GUITARRA", television series documenting the lives of Spain's flamenco guitar legends. He also recorded an album with flamenco soloist ENRIQUE DE MELCHOR and toured with the flamenco singer ENRIQUE MORENTE and guitarist PACO CORTEZ, performing "EL MITO DE EDIPO REY", a flamenco version of "OEDIPUS REX" which gained national attention for it's unorthodox performances in several of Spain's famous roman and Greek ruines. He composed and performed the score for an experimental film short produced by and directed by PABLO PICASSO's brother and performed with the orchestra in the national production of "EVITA". Alberto returned to the U.S. and after two years performing and recording in San Francisco he moved back to L.A. where he continued recording and performing and taught a series of FLAMENCO GUITARS WORKSHOPS at the acclaimed MIT along with some of the best modern flamenco guitar talent from Spain, PEPE HABICHUELA, RAFAEL RIQUENI, JAVIER RUIBAL, JOSE MIGUEL AND BOLA. To further promote flamenco music and culture in L.A. Alberto formed the FLAMENCO MUSIC SOCIETY and the FLAMENCO WORLD MUSIC AND DANCE ACADEMY performing in several music and dance concerts throughout southern California featuring acclaimed flamenco and world music artists including contemporary singer guitarist legend JAVIER RUIBAL, keyboardist DON PRESTON (Mothers of Inventions), percussionist ZAKIR HUSSEIN (PETER GABRIEL's "LAST TEMPATION OF CHRIST") and RAFAEL RIQUENI, three times winner of the world famous "Biennal", Spain's prestigious flamenco guitar competition. Alberto and RAFAEL an intimate concert hosted by FRANCOIS MITTERAND FRENCH PRIME MINISTER's WIFE in honor of PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN and FIRST LADY NANCY REAGAN. Alberto performed with world music group "FURIA" at the GRAND FESTIVAL OF MODERN FLAMENCO in Santa Barbara and with the renowned Afghanistan musician/singer GHEB KHALED in a rare live radio performance. Alberto has also performed for several CDs, feature films, TV shows and commercials, writing the film score for SIDNEY SHELDON's mini-series "THE SANDS OF TIME", the AFI film "SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME", with DON PRESTON on the film "I BELIEVE IN EVE", "FORGIVE THE DEVIL", ABC movie of the week "DADDY" and another movie of the week "REVOLVER". Alberto's television commercial credits include HAGGER JEANS, THE MEXICAN, BOARD OF TOURISM, LEXUS, CHEVROLET-JEEP and DIET PEPSI with RAY CHARLES. He was the guitarist in the ENRIQUE IGLESIAS video "BAILAMOS" from WILL SMITH's "WILD WILD WEST" movie and performed an original song "ASI SOY YO" with his flamenco band in SPIKE LEE's hit movie "LOVE AND BASKETBALL", played on the soundtrack of VCA's movie "SHOCK" that won the award for the best soundtrack in the 1999 Adult Film Awards, played on CHARO's CD, worked with JULIO IGLESIAS in his video "TANGO", composed and recorded with the extraordinary violinist DOUG CAMERON on his CD "RENDEZ-VOUS" the hauntingly beautiful song "LA VIOLETA" on HIGHER OCTAVE and also appeared in the new "LOVE BOAT" TV series. He also performed for THE INDEPENDENT FILM SPIRIT AWARDS party and for the U.S.OLYMPIC COMMITTEE for the 1996 WORLD OLYMPICS in Atlanta. He also performed for the GYPSY KINGS at their post concert parties. Alberto also performed with his local cutting-edge contemporary flamenco rock band including bassist CARMINE ROJAS (ROD STEWART, DAVID BOWIE, JULIAN LENNON) and percussionist RANDY CASTILLO (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK SABBATH). Alberto right now has just completed with CLAUDIO COLLINO a new concept of a mix between flamenco, new age, world music and latino influences called "ALMA PURA" with the new band KYTARANA. CLAUDIO COLLINO Claudio "Colinsky" Collino was born in 1961 in Venice, Italy. His parents encouraged him to become a Classical pianist by enrolling him in one of the most prestigious music conservatories in Italy. On his own initiative, Claudio composed his first piece by the age of 13. While continuing his education, Claudio became an instructor of the art himself. He went on the have his first single produced in 1983, at the age of 22, three years before he was to receive his Master's Degree in Classical piano from the G. Tartini Music Conservatory in Trieste. From 1983 to 1987 he produced several Euro-dance singles with Premio Nobel. During this time, he and his bands toured, performing songs composed by Claudio in clubs around Europe and on national Italian and Spanish television and radio programs. Between the two bands, Claudio had five singles hit the European dance charts in the top 40. Feeling this was just the beginning, in 1987, Claudio founded D.F.C., which became the trend label for Expanded Music for the following 10 years. This opened new doors to the European Dance scene. Claudio went on to change to the style of house music and produced and published singles for several bands in Europe and Asia from 1987 to 1989. In 1989, Claudio released "Sueno Latino," which was number one on the European Dance charts for three weeks and stayed in the top 40 for several months. "Sueno Latino" was a very important part of the dance movement of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Since the original production, Derrick May, Frankie Knuckles and other well known remixers have re-released "Sueno Latino" annually to the present. "Sueno Latino also attracted the attention of Malcolm McLaren (founder of Sex Pistols, inventing the punk trend and partnered with Trevor Horn, producer of the Buggles, YES, Grace Jones, etc). On his last album, Claudio and his crew went on to remix "Waltz Darling" in addition to four new tracks. After several productions of "Sueno Latino," Claudio's attention turned to the mix of Peruvian and techno music, which developed Atahualpa. Atahualpa hit the big time with "Ultimo Imperio," which was released in 1990. While the band toured Europe playing concerts, television and radio shows, the single hit number one on the European dance charts. After the release of "Ultimo Imperio," they released "Ritmo Andino," which spawned thee new number one hits, selling 80,000 copies in Italy alone as an unusual techno album. In 1992, Atahualpa targeted the pop market with "Ritmo Andino II"with more success than ever. Claudio then produced several singles for other bands in the dance market until he hit the charts again with "Barraca Destroy" in 1993. "Barraca Destroy" went on to become a number one hit and had continuous rotation on radio for one full year in Europe and Asia. Continuing his career, Claudio produced the group Sin Fronteras who cut "Vives con Pasion," a Latino oriented dance mix included in one of the top selling compilations in 1995. In the same year "FFRR," London Records, re-released a song already published by Energy Records, "In Spirit," which had echoed in the international dance circuit and had been promoted by the best DJ's in 1990. The remix was done in England and the song went to the top 40 and hit the trendy club of Europe. This song, along with "Baila Este Ritmo" went on to be included in the original sound track of the 1999 Chuck and Michael Norris movie, "The Rage Within." After a meeting with Cecilia Gayle in 1997, Claudio wrote and produced "Baila Este Ritmo," one of the main songs for her album "El Pam Pam," which sold several hundred thousands copies. Claudio has collaborated with different musicians, writing an American style rock album, an Italian pop album, many themes for soundtracks and classical originals. Several of Claudio's hits are listed on Napster. Claudio now lives in Los Angeles and has recently written, recorded, arranged, engineered, produced, and plays keyboards on a Flamenco CD titled "Alma Pura" with another well known artist and flamenco guitar player, Alberto de Almar. Stepping out of his normal realm of music, Claudio feels this will be the album that takes him to the top. Check out the artist's website: http://albertodealmar.com Track List: 1. Calle del Rey 2. Enera 3. Handan 4. Camino a Cuzco 5. Mission 6. Infinite 7. Rebecca 8. Havana 9. Atalaya 10. Paseo de Peralta 11. Noche Encantada Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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