Bio37-Musicians - www.ensembleespanol.org

JAVIER SAUME MAZZEI,
Percussionist

Javier is a native of Caracas, Venezuela and began playing percussion at the age of eight. He holds a B.A. in Music from Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University where he studied classical percussion with Ed Harrison, drum set with Phil Grateau and Wertico and latin percussion with Ruben Alvarez. Javier has performed with Rhonda Richmond, Reginald Veal, Herlin Riley, and Cassandra Wilson, and the Symphony Orchestra "Sistema de Orquestras Juveniles de Venezuela". Javier has performed internationally in concerts, master classes, and residencies in Beijing, China, and at the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. and Carnegie Hall in New York City with Sones de Mexico Ensemble. He has recorded with Middle Eastern Jazz artists Omar Al-Musfi and Hi Jazz. Javier currently records and performes with Sones de Mexico Ensemble. the only group in NARAS history to be nominated for the Latin Grammy and Grammy in the same year

FLAVIO RODRIGUES,
Flamenco Guitarist

Flavio Rodrigues is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil and began playing the guitar with his father at the age of five. In 1998, he moved to Spain, where he studied with three master guitar players: Manolo Sanlúcar, Gerardo Núñez and Rafael Riqueni.
He currently lives in Madrid and works with internationally renowned flamenco artists, including Antonio Canales, Manuel Reyes, La China, Domingo Ortega, Belén Fernández, Rafaela Carrasco, Belén Maya, Concha Jareño, Adela Campallo, Pastora Galván, Rocío Molina, Olga Pericet, Rubén Olmo, Manuel Liñán, Marco Flores, Maria Juncal, Belén Lopez, Alfonso Losa, José Maya, Rafael Estevez, Pitingo, Rafael Jiménez "Falo", Talegón de Córdoba, Guadiana, Agustin Carbonell “Bola”, Lole Montoya (Lole y Manuel), Montse Cortes, Pepe Habichuela, José Jiménez "el Viejín", José Luís Montón, Domingo Patricio, Juan Parrilla, Rubém Dantas, Juan Gomez “Chicuelo”, Jorge Pardo, José Soto "Sorderita," and with important Brazilian artists, such as Filó Machado, Nana Vasconcelos, Carlinhos Antunes, Yamandu Costa, Sizao Machado, Renato Martins, Thiago Espirito Santo, Alex Buck, etc. Rodrigues has also been invited to work with different international musicians, including Yoshida Brothers (Japan), The Savage Rose (Denmark), Trilok Gurtu (India) and Hossam Ramzy (Egypt).

Rodrigues was the official guitarist, composer and musical director of Rafael Amargo’s company for five years, working on a total of six shows ("Amargo," "Poeta en Nueva York," "Intimo," "Enramblao," "D. Q. - Pasajero en Transito…" and "Tiempo Muerto"), and performing in over 45 countries at the most important theatres and festivals (Bunkamura - Tokyo, Champs Ellysses - Paris, City Center - New York, Gran Rex - Buenos Aires, Auditorio Nacional - D.F. México, Gran Teatre Liceo - Barcelona, Teatro Municipal – Sao Palo, Teatro Real - Madrid, etc.).

In 2010, Rodrigues released his first solo album entitled Anyways.

PEDRO OBREGON,
Flamenco Singer

Pedro Obregón is a native of Córdoba, Spain and began his singing career at the Peña Flamenca El Mirabras. In 2003, he moved to Barcelona to record his first solo album - Sueño Flamenco - with several guest artists, including Carles Benavent and Joan Albert Amargós, among others. Obregón is currently one of the most sought after flamenco singers on the Madrid scene and regularly collaborates with such important flamenco artists as Rafael Amargo, Maria Juncal, Marco Flores, Manuel Liñán, Olga Pericet, Concha Jareño, Juan Gomez “Chicuelo”, Belén López, Rojas & Rodríguez and many others. Aside from working as an accompanist, Obregón is also regularly invited to sing at recitals and solo concerts in Peñas Flamencas around Spain and has participated in innumerable international festivals.

MUSICIANS