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Friday, September 22, 2006
World Music Takes Center Stage
By Emily Van Cleve
For the Journal
Being in the spotlight is still unfamiliar to singer/songwriter Michael Ramos, who has played sideman for John Mellencamp, Patty Griffin and Los Lonely Boys and been a member of the Rembrandts and the Bodines.
Since his new band Charanga Cakewalk has been on the scene and received great reviews for its albums "Loteria de la Cumbia Lounge" and "Chicano Zen," Ramos has had more attention focused on him than ever.
Charanga Cakewalk plays the Lensic tonight as part of the preview concert for "¡Globalquerque!," a statewide, weeklong celebration of world music and culture. Playing sidemen for Ramos are guitarists Jacob Owen and Marc Sauceda and singer Patricia Vonn. Ramos is featured on the accordion, trumpet and melodica.
Charanga, which traditionally refers to a genre of Cuban dance music popular in the 1940s, is used to designate an all-encompassing dance form, Ramos said by phone from Texas. This genre of music, along with hardcore Latin sounds as well as tunes by the Beatles and Rolling Stones, have influenced Ramos' musical sensibilities and helped him develop a truly eclectic style that includes salsa, flamenco, electronica, reggae, Tejano and rock 'n' roll. Writing songs both political and personal, he aims to express universal thoughts while proudly asserting his heritage as a Mexican American.
"In my music I want to point out that I am a Latino/Chicano and am part of that culture," he said. "But I have studied many religions and spiritual paths and found that everything is the same at its core. That's why 'Chicano Zen' is an appropriate name for my most recent album."
Sharing the stage with Ramos is Indian musician and composer Kiran Ahluwalia, who writes a form of sung poetry called ghazal that explores the many moods of love. Ahluwalia spent years looking for a master of the ghazal and found Vithal Rao, from whom she learned many traditional songs. Because there is a vast repertoire of this ancient music that originated in Persia and reached India 600 years ago, there are very few ghazal composers like Ahluwalia who are interested in creating new works in this unusual genre.
Yjastros-the American Flamenco Repertory Company is the third act of the evening. The national touring company from Albuquerque features top U.S. flamenco dancers under the direction of fourth-generation flamenco dancer and musician Joaquin Encinias.
WHAT: "¡Globalquerque!" at the Lensic
WHEN: 7:30 tonight
WHERE: Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St.
HOW MUCH: $15-$35; (505) 988-1234