¡FlaMÉXico! is a musical reflection of two cultures forming a new vision. Arizona-born composer Chris Burton Jácome charged his project ¡FlaMÉXico! with finding, creating and celebrating the musical confluences of Spain’s Flamenco and México’s Mariachi.

Chris grew up listening to mariachi music at his family’s fiestas, but felt a calling to a musical genre more distant from his Mexican-American roots…Flamenco stole Chris’ heart and he moved to Sevilla, Spain to study the art form directly from the source. In a serendipitous coincidence, while living in Sevilla, Chris found a chapel in the depths of the cathedral dedicated to his family-name, “Jácome”. Could it be that Chris’ calling came from an ancestral past long forgotten?

This journey to find a genuine fusion of two distinct and profound musical styles began as more of a whim for Jácome. Could it be done? Can these two arts find a common-ground musically that would adequately represent the cultural integrity of each?

FlaMÉXico’s mission is to find the answers to these questions, along with a mountain of other more specific musical/rhythmical questions. However, FlaMÉXico has found much beauty, celebration and joy in the beginning stages of this quest and new audiences will be enthralled and delighted by the initial results. This new musical fusion brings knowledge from both flamenco and mariachi.

(l/r Martin Gaxiola, Lena Jacome, Kris Hill, Adrian Goldenthal, CBJ, Olga Flores, Sal Gallegos)

     
 
(l/r Lena Jacome, Adrian Goldenthal, CBJ, Martin Gaxiola, Kris Hill, Sal Gallegos, Olga Flores)