Flamenco’s new singing star Rafael de Utrera launches first U.S. solo tour;

Flamenco, perhaps more than
any other music, is an acquired taste. Intensely rooted in Spanish tradition
and tierra, the music can sometimes seem impenetrable to outsiders; the
preserve of specialists and aficionados. Yet in recent years Americans
have been increasingly drawn to flamenco. Lured by its passion and theatricality
we’ve become increasingly sophisticated consumers of the music,
savoring the experience with the kind of enthusiasm we usually reserve
for a rare fino or vintage rioja.

Yet of the three main components of flamenco – guitar, dance and
vocals – true appreciation of what many consider the soul of the
music, the art of the flamenco singer, is the most challenging. It’s
not all due to the language barrier either. The wailing, attenuated sobs
and gritos of the flamenco cantaor (singer) can be downright daunting.
Enter Rafael Usero Vilches – a.k.a. Rafael de Utrera – one
of the most accessible, versatile and authentic flamenco cantaors to come
to these shores in years.

At just 32 years old, Utrera is already one of the most accomplished
singers of his generation. Growing up in the town of Utrera, near Sevilla,
Rafael absorbed flamenco firsthand at the popular peña (flamenco
club) owned by his father. By the age of 10 he was already performing
all over Andalucia with a group of young singers that included his brother
Juan Luis. But Rafael had the raw talent and ambition to turn this avocation
into a career, playing bigger and bigger tablaos in Seville and Barcelona
until he came to the attention of well-known flamenco dancer Cristina
Hoyos, who invited the young singer to tour the world with her company
in 1997.

Since then he’s never looked back, working with just about every
major flamenco star and touring extensively. He’s accompanied many
of the greats, from such renowned dancers as Farraquito, Carmen Lozano,
Joaquin Cortes, and Eva Yerbabuena to such legends of the guitar as Tomatito
and Paco de Lucia. Last year, during his participation in the 2003 Flamenco
Festival USA, Rafael demonstrated his versatility to American audiences
by singing behind both avant garde flamenco dancer Israel Galvan and the
great Manuela Carrasco, whose style of dance is much more traditional.
Rafael was able to match these two powerhouses’ contrasting performances
flawlessly.

While he’s a brilliant accompanist, Utrera is also an accomplished
soloist. His honeyed, raspy tenor projects a startling range and nuance
– equally capable of a heartrending wail or a sexy whisper. With
this powerful instrument, Utrera is that very rare kind of cantaor who
can stand alone, commanding stages and captivating audiences without adornment.
He’s the flamenco singer that American audiences have been waiting
for.

Rafael’s company will include Emilio Maya and Jose Manuel Leon
on guitar, and Katumba on percussion with Rafael de Carmen and Carmen
Maria Moreno Martin as featured dancers.

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