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JUANITO PASCUAL
BIOGRAPHY
Highly acclaimed flamenco guitarist Juanito Pascual is about to release his second solo CD. Titled Language
of the Heart the album elevates the vibrant flamenco phenom to a new level of musical artistry.
Language of the Heart deeply celebrates the flamenco traditions yet the music is simmered and caramelized by
the amazing musical talents of a virtual Who's Who of some of the biggest names in flamenco, jazz and world
music. The stunning new release features two of the finest new flamenco singers on the scene, Elena Andujar
(who’s featured in The Devil's Advocate and Flamenco Women) and Leo Priviño, virtuoso bassist John Patitucci
(who’s performed with Chick Corea, B.B. King, Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock), one of the foremost
world music and jazz percussionists in the United States, Jamey Haddad (who’s performed with Paul Simon,
Paul Winter), noted cajón player Gonzalo Grau (the Grammy®-nominated leader of "La Clave Secreta"),
electric bassist Sean Kupisz (who performed with Al di Meola) Spain’s star flamenco dancer Nino de los
Reyes, pianist Alex Conde Carrasco, violinist Rohan Gregory, flutist Stan Strickland and percussionist
Jerry Leake.
Since the early part of the 21st century, Jonathan "Juanito" Pascual has been widely regarded as one of the
top young flamenco guitarists in the international music scene. Born in Minneapolis in 1973, Pascual became
a new voice in this most Spanish of musical genres; his signature virtuosity and warm, evocative playing, along
with his original compositional style, have won him praise and admiration around the globe. Recognized in
Spain as a new creative voice, his frequent collaborations with esteemed Spanish artists include recent
performances in Madrid's renowned Casa Patas with well-known flamenco singer/dancer Elena Andújar and
members of the Maria Pagés Dance Company. A new recording project with pianist Alex Conde Carrasco has
just been released. Another project featuring flamenco singer "El Pola” is slated to be released later this year.
Juanito's original music has touched audiences and musicians from across the musical spectrum. He has
performed with Grammy®-winning artists including soprano Dawn Upshaw, jazz pianists such as Michel
Camilo, and Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, renowned Middle-Eastern musician Omar Faruk Takbilek
and Israeli cantor Emil Zrihan. He has worked with a long list of top flamenco musicians and dancers from
Spain and the United States including Isaac and Nino de los Reyes, Raquel Heredia, Omayra Amaya, Ramon
de los Reyes, Jose Greco II, Sara Erde, La Conja, Carlota Santana, La Repompa de Málaga, Inés Arrubla,
Susana di Palma, Chuscales, Pedro Cortes, Roberto Catellón and Caminos Flamencos. In addition, since
2005, Juanito has been the director of the annual summer Flamenco Institute at the New England
Conservatory in Boston.
Juanito has been a featured artist in some of the best-known venues and festivals in the United States,
including the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, New York's 92nd Street Y, New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club,
Boston's Jordan Hall and Cambridge’s Regattabar, in addition to many colleges and performing arts centers.
He has been featured on National Public Radio's The World and on many other radio and television
appearances. Juanito recently even made his on-screen debut with an appearance alongside Steve Martin and
Andy Garcia in the 2009 release of Pink Panther 2!
Pascual holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory
where he graduated with honors in 1997; he was also Second Prize winner in the 1996 New England Classical
Guitar Competition.
Juanito Pascual first picked up the guitar at age eleven and discovered the magic of flamenco at age fifteen.
His first flamenco teacher Mateo Davies, encouraged him to travel to Spain the following year where he was
completely immersed in the flamenco culture, studying with teachers including Adam del Monte, Parilla de
Jerez, Manolo Sanlucar, and El Entri. Returning to the U.S. and enrolling at New England Conservatory in
1992, Juanito’s teachers included classical guitarists David Leisner and Eliot Fisk and jazz guitarist Gene
Bertoncini. Most recently, he has been mentored by the Boston-based maestro Dimitri Goryachev.
Energized by a driving passion to share the beauty and soul-stirring power of this ancient yet most vibrant and
evolving musical style, Juanito brings the energy of hope and joy through his performances, recordings and
teaching. In 2003 Juanito completed his first CD Cosas en Común featuring all original flamenco compositions.
The work received critical acclaim and frequent radio play in the United States as well as abroad. Juanito also
collaborated on the Grammy®-winning chamber opera Ainadamar by Osvoldo Golijov, which had its debut at
Tanglewood in 2003 and featured soprano Dawn Upshaw.