Two award-winning flamenco musicians from Madrid are headed to Port Alberni
Melón Jimenez and Lara Wong will be at Char's Landing on Sunday, Sept. 1 as part of their 20-date Canadian tour. Direct from the flamenco-jazz capital of Madrid, Spain, the two award-winning musicians are set to ignite Canadian stages with their captivating fusion of flamenco, world music,and jazz.
Spanish guitarist Melón Jiménez and Vancouver-born flute and bansuri player Lara Wong are an innovative force in the Spanish flamenco scene, experimenting with flamenco's Indian and Arabic roots and incorporating these traditions into modern flamenco. Dazzling guitar riffs, entrancing rhythms, mystical bansuri melodies, and colourful flute improvisations come together in this dynamic ensemble.
Jiménez and Wong's artistic journey together began when they first met on stage in 2018 in the flamenco jazz capital of Madrid. Since then, they have toured around the world in Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Morocco, and have played at iconic venues such as Bluenote Shanghai, Vancouver Folk Festival, SunFest, Taipei Performing Arts Centre and Mundial Montreal.
Jimenez, one of Spain’s top flamenco guitarist, grew up between Madrid and Jerez de la Frontera, the cradle of flamenco in Andalucia. He began his musical journey at the age of three, following in the footsteps of his father. Today, he is one of Spain’s most celebrated flamenco guitarist and has left an indelible mark on the music world.
Wong, originally from Vancouver, is a prominent figure in Spain's flamenco scene. Her journey began in the classical world, earning a Bachelor's of Music in classical and jazz flute from McGill University. Today, she is the winner of the prestigious "Filon" first prize award for best flamenco instrumentalist at the Festival Cante de las Minas, where she made history as the first foreigner and the first female to win in the instrumentalist category. Furthermore, she stands as a pioneer in incorporating the bansuri flute into the realm of flamenco.
Jiménez and Wong will perform at Char's Landing on Sunday, Sept. 1, starting at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at sidedooraccess.com, at the door or by calling or texting Char at 250-730-1636.
