I'm very excited to join this Forum, and have already learned a bunch of information!
Thanks to ALL of you for keeping this going!

So, a little about me:

I'm a 39 year old who has only been playing guitar as a hobby for about 6 years. Yes, I've started late in life, and hope I can be an inspiration to anyone out there, young and old, to just pick up guitar, regardless of your age. The enjoyment you will receive from playing just three notes in rhythm will be what I assume trying heroin must be like (well, at least I feel the way people look in the movies!),if you're a true music lover. I have NO musical training, but have spent my entire life appreciating music, which I think may have helped more than I knew would.

I've gotten to the point where I'm beginning to accompany dancers and singers. There is a great scene here in the Bay Area, which you can learn much from at http://www.sfflamenco.com/ I'm still looking for a teacher here in San Francisco that is affordable. Most teachers charge between $40 - $100 per hour up here. The cost of living (and the salaries) are pretty high out here, so it jacks up the rates of everything. Most of what I know now I've learned from books and one or two lessons from teachers that couldn't work out.

I really appreciate "Old School Flamenco" not because I'm against progress and experimentation and virtuosic technique, but because I hate cheese. You know, Flamenco Cheese. So as not to offend anyone reading this, I won't go into it here. But you know it when you hear it / see it / "experience" it.

I guess what keeps me going back to "Old School" Flamenco is it's poetry and simplicity. That and the Cante. Especially Cante Jondo. I love proverbs more than anything else, mostly, because, like the music, they say things that can convey so much more than speaking directly. Not a lot of proverbs in modern flamenco.

Ok, so as not to turn this into a monologue, I'll list a few of my favorite pieces of Flamenco art to let you know where I'm coming from. I'd love to hear what you think!

Anything from Diego del Gastor but mostly his Soleares, Sigueryas y Bulerias:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwJEMvSNMgc

I really dig Churumbaque Hijo, especially his Alegrias:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF1AkQuf ... 87h-KS3EVo

I really enjoy Rocio Marquez...(aside from the fact that she's really easy to look at!), I like most of her work, and delight in the exploring she has done in which is new, but old, and without the cheese!! The following is not "Flamenco", but still harkens back to what surely influenced Flamenco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L98PT6HS ... vD9yHNEFv0

I'm happy to chat more, here, or as a "friend" on Facebook! Please send me a message! Look up "Scrub Jay"
Cheers!
Joel

Joel, Couldn't find you on facebook. SF is the flamenco hotbed of America and there are several good teachers there. Lots of puro flamenco activity there also. You are right about the expense. Glad you like the old stuff and appreciate Diego dG. Look forward to you posting clips of your playing.

Hi Sam,
I think I found you and sent a FaceBook request to your account. I'm going by the handle "Scrub Jay".

San Francisco is the "Hotbed of Flamenco" in America? Really? Over New York City ? Mexico city? Albuquerque, NM?

I'd love to hear your rationale, as I've always dreamed there would be other city's with perhaps a bit more.

Granted, we have Jason McGuire here. That guy is a MONSTER!

I should say for gypsy style flamenco. Many don't do much public appearance anymore. Some spent a few months a year in Spain. Richard Black moved to Spain permanently. Several of the old Moron group is in SF area. Agustin Rios Amaya (Diego's nephew) is in the area. I think Mejia's are in the Bay area when not in Spain.

ah! that I can bet on. Yes, Diego's nephew is here, he's got a website, but I never see him perform.
P
Anywho, I've also heard that the Flamenco scene in Moron itself is not very good any more. Is that true? Have there been any recent posts about that hear, in this forum, from someone who may have recently been there to study guitar?

Thanks again!
Joel

P.S. I spent the day in the park playing guajiras with another guitarist for four dancers! I guess that is pretty fortunate!

Welcome to the group Joel. Thanks for the link to Rocío Márquez collaborating with Emilio Villalba de Mediterranea. That is beautiful music. I converted the YouTube Flash file to mp3 and copied it over to my portable iAudio player so I can listen on the go without internet access.

I agree with you about Rocío Márquez. She is a fabulous singer. I especially like the way she sings Caracoles in this example.

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-Bob