Biography
Flamenco Caravan, while being true to its flamenco forms, also blends the band members’ favorite musical influences of Latin, jazz, rock, sacred and blues, capturing the imagination of the soul through guitar, rhythm and song. Between lightning-speed guitar flourishes, melting vocals, and the entire band’s driving and grooving rhythms and electric chemistry, audience members of every age have been won over. The music has been described as "world-class", "beautiful and magical", "moving", "amazing in its variety" and "alternately soothing and stirring to the soul". The comment most often offered to the band after a performance is, "I couldn’t sit still! I just wanted to get up and dance!"
Formed in 1999, Flamenco Caravan is made up of a core group consisting of Esteban Figueroa on lead guitar, Susanna DiGiuseppe on keyboards and vocals, Tony Agostino on rhythm guitar, Jim Differ on drums and percussion, and Greg McIntosh on bass. Often additional musicians on percussion, backing vocals, trumpet and other instruments add to the band’s full sound.
The group has opened for acts such as Colin James, Jeff Healey, Paul Shaffer and America just to name a few, and their performances at the 2006 Owen Sound, Red Rock and Cambridge folk festivals garnered rave reviews and standing ovations.
In 2005, Flamenco Caravan recorded "Love’s Philosophy" and launched the CD on October 7th at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium to an 800+ audience. General Manager of the auditorium, Bob Halverson, commented: "That, in my mind, was one of the finest shows I’ve ever seen in that building. You expect someone on the international stage to be good, but when you find someone in Thunder Bay who is as good or better, that ices it for you."
Flamenco Caravan has been interviewed by CBC radio at the local and national level. Its music has been successfully auditioned by the CBC (Toronto) and distributed to its libraries nationwide. It receives consistent airplay on CBC radio and is requested by listeners. In addition, "Love’s Philosophy" was named a top pick of 2006 by CBC Radio’s Fresh Air.
Flamenco Caravan is excited to be releasing its second CD entitled "Alchemy" in a concert at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on April 28, 2007.
Discography
Calma
- Road To Your Heart (3:59)
- Remember (3:58)
- Calma (7:00)
- Spain (5:16)
- Buscando Paraiso (5:32)
- Silent Love (For Eloy Figueroa) (5:39)
- Tio Alfredo (3:41)
- De Sol O Arena (3:59)
- Bahia Del Recuerdo (6:40)
- Calma - Alain Caron Remix (6:58)
Esteban Figueroa (Lead Guitar,Palmas,Djembe,Cajon,Rhythm,Bass on Track 5)
- Tony Agostino (1st Solo Track 1)
- Greg McIntosh( Bass on Track 1)
- Alberto Figueroa (Shaker on Track 4)
- Dino Pepe (Tenor Saxophone and Soprano Tracks 3 & 4)
- Danial Zadkovich (Bass on tracks 3 & 4)
- Alain Caron (Bass Track 10)
- Jim Differ (Drums Tracks 3 & 10)
- Produced by Esteban Figueroa
- Recorded at Figtree Studio, Rob Nickerson Studio.
- Mastered by Allen Hunnie.
- Artwork by Donna Goodman
- Music composed by Esteban Figueroa except tracks 4 by Chick Corea with permission from CMRRA.
Alchemy
- Dream to Go (3:50)
- Moliendo Cafe (3:57)
- Mi Amor (3:40)
- Quillota (3:14)
- Children of a New Day (4:40)
- Lydia (3:09)
- Echoes (5:38)
- Camino Mallarauco (Tango) (4:48)
- Don't You Worry (4:55)
- Vermouth Bianco (4:48)
- Angels on the Run (7:30)
The Band
- Esteban Figueroa (Lead Guitar and Palmas)
- Susanna DiGiuseppe (Piano, Synth, Lead and Backup Vocals)
- Tony Agostino (Guitar, Backup Vocals)
- Jim Differ (Drums and Percussion)
- Greg McIntosh (Bass and Synth)
Additional Musicians
- Terry Wood (Trumpet)
- George Koller (Bass on tracks 3 & 10)
- Alberto Figueroa (Electric Guitar)
- Dino Pepe (Saxophone)
- Danial Zadkovich (Bass on tracks 5, 9 and 11)
- Produced by Esteban Figueroa, Tony Agostino, Susanna DiGiuseppe.
- Recorded at Rob Nickerson Studios.
- Mastered by Allen Hunnie.
- Artwork by Donna Goodman
- Music composed by Tony Agostino, Esteban Figueroa and Susanna DiGiuseppe, except tracks 4 and 8 composed by Esteban Figueroa.
- Lyrics by Susanna DiGiuseppe
Tracks 1, 3, 6, 10 and 11 arranged by Flamenco Caravan. Tracks 2, 5, 7 and 9 arranged by Tony Agostino and Esteban Figueroa. Track 8 arranged by Esteban Figueroa.
Flamenco Caravan would like to thank: Our families, Greg McIntosh for the use of recording equipment, and Our fans for their much appreciated support.
Love's Philosphy
- Love's Philosophy (5:31)
- Bossa Chilena (3:09)
- Aires de Cuba (3:04)
- Story of You (5:08)
- Casa del Carmen (4:30)
- Musica es Vida (3:27)
- Far Away (3:04)
- Farewell To Baghdad (3:24)
- Prelude to Grace (3:24)
- Grace (2:57)
The Band
- Esteban Figueroa (Rhythm & lead guitar)
- Tony Agostino (Rhythm & lead guitar)
- Susanna DiGiuseppe (Vocals, piano, keyboard)
Featuring Trumpet: Terry Wood (tracks 6 & 10) Violin: Chris Krienke (track 8) Cajon, djembe: Alberto Figueroa (tracks 2, 3, 6) Drum kit: Jim Krawczuk (track 1) Drum kit, percussion: Jim Differ (tracks 4, 6, 7, 8, 10) Bass: Tom Boshcoff (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10)
Produced by Esteban Figueroa, Tony Agostino, Susanna DiGiuseppe. Recorded at Mark Soderlind Studio, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Engineered & mixed by Mark Soderlind. Additional mixing & recording by Rob Nickerson. Mastered by Allan Hunnie, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Insert photos by Joanne Figueroa. Cover artwork & design by Danielle Lappage.
Many thanks to: Juana y los ninos, Lorraine Agostino e le due mascaizoni, Bonny & Terry Wood, Chris Krienke, Jim Differ, Jimmy Krawczuk, Alberto Figueroa, Tom Boshcoff, Mark Soderlind, & Rob Nickerson.