Intimate sessions: Casa Flamenca kicks off tablao season with 'Historias de Amor'

Carmen Montes is constantly on the move.

As the executive director of Casa Flamenca, she’s always looking for events that will grow the community.

Casa Flamenca is kicking off its Flamenco Tablao Series with “Historias de Amor.” The event runs 8 p.m. Friday Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, and at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18.

Flamenco singer and pianist Diego Amador will be joined by Spanish guitarist Juani de la Isla and flamenco dancers Carmen Montes, Carlos Menchaca and Giovanna Hinojosa.

Intimate sessions: Casa Flamenca kicks off tablao season with 'Historias de Amor'

“We partnered with the National Institute of Flamenco to have a few of their dancers join us,” Montes says. “It’s a great collaboration of high-quality flamenco.”

Born in Seville, Spain, into a gypsy family with a long flamenco musical tradition, Amador is a flamenco jazz multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer.

Montes says he has been called “El Ray Charles Gitano” (the gypsy Ray Charles) for his free and vigorous spirit when playing the piano.

He has collaborated with the biggest stars of flamenco and with jazz artists such as Pat Metheny, Biréli Lagrène, Charlie Haden and Chick Corea.

De la Isla was born in the Cadiz province of southern Spain.

During his illustrious career, he has accompanied some of the finest flamenco artists of this century and performed on over 100 flamenco recordings. He is currently the musical director at Casa Flamenca and artistic director of the Juani de la Isla Quartet, a flamenco/Latin jazz fusion ensemble.

Montes says getting Amador and de la Isla to perform together will be such a treat.

“These two performers have amazing careers,” she says. “Diego comes from a celebrated family who are legends in flamenco. He also embodies the essence of the genre. This will be the first time that both will perform together.”

Montes says the night isn’t just about flamenco dance.

“It will be a mix of music, jazz and some romantic stories,” she says. “The event will showcase all the facets of flamenco.”