THE VAL RAMOS FLAMENCO ENSEMBLE – GROUP BIO
The Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble is one of the best Flamenco fusion groups in the United States. Established in 1994, the group features the unique talents of VAL RAMOS (lead Flamenco guitarist), JOSE R. RAMOS (Flamenco guitarist), GONZALO CORTES (flutist), CARLOS HERNANDEZ CHAVEZ (bassist), ASHLEY JONES (violinist), JOSE BERRIOS (percussionist), and MATT MOADEL (cajon player/percussionist). The ensemble often performs with ALFONSO CID, the talented Flamenco singer from Sevilla, Spain. The ensemble also performs with guest Flamenco dancers and other musicians from Spain and the United States.
Hailed as “the best of classical Flamenco brought to modern standards” (Rootsworld.com), “a hidden treasure of the Flamenco world in the Americas…superb musicianship..” (Flamenco Connection), and “simply brilliant” (Flamenco Buzz.com) this outstanding musical group represents the best of contemporary Flamenco music, song, and dance.
The Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble has released three albums of original Flamenco music and song, all on the PIRAM Records label–Por mi camino (2001), Boricuas Flamencos (1998), and Olive Green Eyes (1995). The ensemble has been featured in major international music festivals including the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, the Regattabar Spring Jazz Festival, and the Guitar Under the Stars Festival. In July 2005, the ensemble toured Spain under the auspices of the United States Embassy in Spain and performed at the inauguration of the new U.S. Ambassador to Spain (at the Embassy in Madrid) as well as at the prestigious club El Savor in Salamanca.
The group has been featured in National Public Radio (NPR United States) and Radio Nacional Española (RNE Spain) interviews in the radio shows “All Things Considered,” “The Faith Middletown Show,” and “La hora de America.” The group’s music is featured in several documentary films including “Puerto Rican Passages” (Connecticut Public Television) and “Nuyoricans” (WNET-Thirteen/PBS).
The ensemble has performed with internationally-renowned and Grammy Award winners the-late CELIA CRUZ and DANNY RIVERA. It has also performed with some of the best Flamenco artists from Spain and the United States including DOMINGO ALVARADO, LUIS VARGAS, DOMINICO CARO, ALFONSO CID, JOSE DE SANTOS, CRISTOBAL CINTRON, ARTURO MARTINEZ, DIONISIA GARCIA, JULISSA CADENILLAS, BARBARA MARTINEZ, GISELE SAAD, CARLITOS REVOLLAR, DAVID CASTELLANOS, FERNANDO DE MALAGA, KAI NAREZO, MELINDA MARQUEZ, and CHICA MORI.