Here are few songs that I've added that have been long over due. I guess we all have highs and lows with inspiration and artistic moments. "La Cuesta de San Blas", is an original composition that I've had brewing for some time now. I dedicate it to my good friend, José Bermúdez Escudero "El Japonés". He is an incredible flamenco guitarist from Salamanca, Spain. He is the one who really gave me my first steps in flamenco. The title is the name of the street that separated our two homes when I lived in Spain. He is a true friend. The two guitar parts are done by me. The castanets were done my friend ,Marga Soler. She is an extraordinary musician. I would have to say that few people are as flamenco as she is. The bass was done by Rusty Heck. He has toured with the best and I have been only so fortunate to have had him collaborate on my project. He's a musician and a half. The song is a kind of Tanguillos. Even though it is not 100% Tanguillos, it has an "Aire de Tanguillos".
The next piece is timeless. It is called, "Milonga Flamenca". It was composed by Agustín Castellón Campos, better known as Sabicas. What can I say? He is a legend in the flamenco world. I hope my interpretation is adequate. The milonga is originally from Argentina but was adapted so seamlessly to flamenco. It falls in the category of Toques de Ida y Vuelta due to its American (meaning the Americas) influence.
This song is called, "Cachondeo" which means to have fun or to have a good time, in the slang of Spain. The second guitar part is done by my friend and awesome guitarist, César Páucar. He is an extraordinary musician.
This great piece of music is a composition by Mario Escudero, one of the greatest flamenco guitarists ever. The composition is called, "Ímpetu" and is probably his most famous composition. It is in the Bulerías compas but pushed the genre to its limits. It was a real eye-opener for flamenco. Paco De Lucía made this song very popular on his first solo album, "La Fabulosa Guitarra de Paco De Lucía (1967). This is my interpretation of it. The "palmas" (hand clapping) was done by my friend and great flamenco dancer, Marga Soler.
Born in Toronto, Canada of Italian parents, Errol Putigna started playing the classical guitar at the age of six. He was first introduced to the instrument by his father. Shortly after, Errol and his family moved to Florida. His father looked for a more accomplished teacher to further his son's classical guitar studies. Errol began to study with Dr. Ken Keaton of Florida Atlantic University. At the age of 13, Errol participated as a performer in a master class with Sharon Isbin, who is currently on the faculty of Julliard Conservatory of Music and a Grammy Award winning musician. Errol traveled to Croatia (former Yugoslavia) to study for two summers with world-renowned classical guitarist, Marinko Opalic. At the age of 15, Errol performed the Concierto para un Gentilhombre by Joaquín Rodrigo. Two years later, he performed the Concierto de Aranjuez and also Concerto in D by Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
Errol was always very much interested in the flamenco guitar but never had the opportunity to pursue it. At the age of 20, he went to Spain to study Spanish at the University of Salamanca. While studying, he was introduced to some flamenco guitarists and they took him under their wings. Due to his passion and dedication to the flamenco guitar, he ended up living in Spain for three years to study Spanish and flamenco guitar. Since then, he has dedicated himself to the performance of solo flamenco guitar and the accompaniment of Cante (flamenco singing) and Baile (flamenco dancing). This past summer, Errol had the opportunity to participate as a performing student at the Córdoba Guitar Festival, in Córdoba, Spain. He studied with flamenco virtuosos and innovators, Manolo Sanlúcar, Manolo Franco, José Antonio Rodríguez and Paco Serrano.
Errol travels every year to Spain to continue his studies and devotion to the classical and flamenco guitar. Errol is very active as a performer and teacher of both classical and flamenco guitar. He enjoys playing with other musicians of different musical backgrounds.
