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Mexika group to tour Colo. w/ free Cinco events

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Contributed by: Renee Fajardo-Anstine on 4/9/2008

Martin Espino, nationally acclaimed L.A.-based performance artist to tour free Cinco de Mayo concerts

There is no doubt that Cinch de Mayo in Denver is like, spring in Paris. Every one must experience it at least once in a life time! Luckily for Colorado LA based and award winning national performance and recording artist Martin Espino will experience Denver and Aurora for Cinco de Mayo by kicking off his first tour of our state. May 1 -May 7.

His tour of Colorado will include free concerts on May 1at noon at the Community College of Aurora, at noon, May 2 at the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council ( CHAC) 30-Year Anniversary ( 7th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive) at 6 p.m.,at the Orchard Town Center ( 144th and I-25), May 3 at 1:30 p.m. and two free shows at the Aurora Fox Theater ( Colfax and Dayton) May 5 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and May 5, at 7p.m. at Boulder Public Library Canyon Theater, 1000 Canyon Blvd. 303-441-4941 elturkg@boulder.lib.co.us. He will also be performing at various schools and colleges.

Colorado Folk Arts Council president Ron Gehauf said the nonprofit troupe worked for over a year to bring Espino to the metro area. "He is phenomenal and what he does is so unique and wonderful that we are thrilled to have him here to tour schools and offer free concerts in intimate settings where folks do not have to fight the crowds.

Espino is best known for his use of native instruments from the "Ancient Americas" (North, Central & South), especially those from his ancestral home in Mexico. He began his professional music career 40 years ago, and became one of the very first musicians in North America to seriously study ancient Mexican instruments and use them extensively in performing. He has toured all through the United States and is so popular in California he is booked months in advance.

"I am the first to use these instruments in an interactive way. Since the 1980's, I have been a pioneer of what I call "Interactive Performance", by using the culture and musical instruments of the ancient Americas to educate, motivate, get all people to gain more self/cultural awareness and respect others and smile and say "Si Se puede" (Yes I can). I am also honest about who and where I learned from. I always acknowledge my sources. I feel blessed with the very unusual background of "classical, street and indigenous training". I earned my Bachelor of Music degree with Honors in Performance from Immaculate Heart College 1978 in California. My show is all about history, culture and heart!" said Espino.

What will the audience see at these shows? Espino plays over a 150 Classical Prehispanic instruments in his performances. He uses voice, wind and percussion instruments.

A few examples are the Ocarinas or Huilakapiztli (clay flutes shaped like animals or people); Panpipes(all sizes/materials); Tlapitzali- Flutes (single to quadruple flutes/clay); Flutes (wood, bone and bamboo); The "Plains" Flute; Whistles to imitate birds & wind; Drums like the "Ayotl"(turtle shell); "Teponaztli"(log drum) & "Huehuetl"(tall vertical drum); Water Drums (gourd); Rattles made of Deer and Goat Hooves, Butterfly Cocoons, Giant Seed Pods, etc; "Omichikahuastli" (Rasps); Rain Sticks of snake gourd or bamboo; Rain Arcs and Chimes of Sea Urchin Spines or Bamboo; Trumpets of Snake Gourd or Sea Snail Shell and since guitars, violins, harps, etc. come from European contact, the ONLY stringed instrument he uses is the Hunter's Bow (with an attached gourd resonator) called the Tawitól, in the Southern Tepehuan language or Arco Musical in Spanish! And if that is not enough there is more laughs Espino. He also brings an instrument that he invented called "Jaguar's Voice". Hmmm sounds scary but fun.

And fun is what his show is all about so fun in fact that the Aurora Fox Theater, 9900 E. Colfax who added two shows this year is so excited they have brought in local Aztec dancers from Huehueteotl to kick off both shows with a grand fanfare of sorts. "This is the big show for us. Cinco de Mayo is about family and culture and community. Espino embraces all the community in a great big hug and send every one away with a big smile!" said Gehauf.

For more information on Espino's tour or to get more information on his programs contact reneefaja@hotmail.com or call 720-329-0869

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Renee Fajardo-Anstine

arvada , CO

Renee Fajardo-Anstine has posted 193 stories and 0 comments since joining on 4/1/2006. Renee Fajardo-Anstine 's average story rating is 4.93.

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