We have some new music from The Wake Up! Music Group entitled “Flamenco In Time” by Elena Andujar. Elena was born in Seville Spain and currently makes her home in Madrid. She is known around the world as the beautiful flamenco dancer who danced with Al Pacino in the hit movie The Devils Advocate.
Her family roots run deep in the Flamenco world, she was raised in an atmosphere filled with the flamenco dance and music, it was and is a way of life. The traditions of dancing, the music and singing was embodied into her core.
Andujar’s first professional performances began with flamenco dancing in 1990 with Antonio Canales. Currently she is the director of her own flamenco school in Madrid where all aspects of the Flamenco style is presented. Her first solo album infused rap with flamenco. It was recorded in Mailan and Madrid and included Walter Tesoriere and flamenco singer Dieguito “El Cigala.”
Madrid is rich in history with Salsa and Flemenco music. I love Salsa and Flamenco music and have many favorites like Malu’. She is the niece of flamenco guitar legend Paco de Lucia and daughter of highly regarded flamenco singer Pepe de Lucia. Elena Andujar is now one of my favorites as well. She is the complete package. An outstanding singer, dancer, and actress.
Salsa dance is accompanied by music and singing/lyrics and is expressed with sensual dance movements. Flamenco is even more. It is a joining of all three, music, singing, and dancing but with a deeper, powerful play upon the language of the body and the rhythm of the elements.
Elena is gifted in many areas of her music and has power within the strong vocals she presents, and the inviting elements of jazz, which she has performed in her work with Jorge Pardo-Carles Benavent, Flamenco All Stars. Her talents were presented in the area of blues the Vargas Blues Band, and Zarzuela in her other musical endeavors with Gala de Reyes at the Teatro Real. For those who do not know of Zarzuela, it is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that can alternate between the singing and then spoken parts of the lyrics.
Her artistic abilities have allowed her to create show’s and performances based on her heritage in the art of the flamenco world. Her singing is spontaneous as is her gift of dance.
This album introduces a talented young percussionist, singer and songwriter named Antonio Andujar. Along with Antonio this album debuts MyMy Lady G, aka House vocalist, composer and poet, MadyY “Pepper” Gomez, as Producer and Director.
“Es Asi/What It Is”, written especially for Elena, unveils the powerful ability that she has with her voice. It shows that not only is she a queen in the flamenco world she is a intoxicating presence in the world of vocals. This song was dedicated to the great Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
This collection includes some extremely talented artists including Elena Andujar, vocals, Antonio Andujar, with percussion, and cajon. Matt Warren, electronic instruments, Pepper Gomez, background vocals, Bruce Gomez on lead guitar. Bass, keyboards is Frank Schabold and Ron Haynes, trumpet. This album presents in the style of flamenco inspired dance songs, Latin house dance mixes. Elena has been likened to artists Sia, Inna, and Kaleena Zanders. It was produced by MyMy Lady G and Matt Warren.
The critic Álvarez Caballero wrote of Elena in El País: “One of the new figures who has most solidly established herself as a flamenco singer.”
For your further listening pleasure and to find out more about Alena you can visit the following sites:
Artist Links
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Bandcamp
Soundcloud
Youtube Channel
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