Mark Taylor - Napa Valley Register

Guitar efforts as good as dance in Copia flamenco show
Saturday, August 2, 2003

By L. PIERCE CARSON
Register Staff Writer

Flamenco is a genuine Spanish art -- or to be more exact, a structured folk art from Andalusia in the south of Spain.

Often improvised and spontaneous, flamenco exists in three forms -- el cante, the song; el baile, the dance; and la guitarra, guitar playing.

Gypsies are often credited as its originators. It is certain they played an important role in its creation. But then, too, the popular songs and dances of Andalusia also had a major influence on early flamenco.

The source of flamenco lies in its singing traditions, making the singer's role quite important. However, audiences are quite taken with the passionate rhythms played out in the flamenco dance as well.

To its credit, Copia is bringing a variety of ethnic dance styles to wine country, most notably several flamenco troupes that have appeared here since the Napa museum opened in the fall of 2001.

As part of its Monday night alfresco concert series, Copia invited La Fibi Flamenco to perform here earlier this week. It's a well disciplined, professional troupe consisting of two guitarists, a percussionist, singer and three female dancers, including founder Phoebe Vernier.

Flamenco guitar, for a long time just a backdrop to the singing and dancing, has come to be recognized as an art form on its own. While some purists disapprove of latter day attempts to blend flamenco with jazz, blues and rock music, it's no wonder that the younger set embraces this fusion wholeheartedly. Give a listen to some of the incredible guitar work offered in Bay Area flamenco troupes alone and you'll see why.

In fact, an incredible guitarist performing with La Fibi Flamenco nearly stole the show last Monday evening. Mark Taylor amazed an attentive crowd of more than 300 with his technical skills, lightning-fast fingerings and perfect tone. Taylor created memorable melodies, echoed by an associate and underscored by consummate percussionist Rami Ziadeh.

Taylor has a feel for the music's innate sensuality, evidenced by the popularity of several of his compact discs (notably "Caminos Flamencos") on the best-selling charts in Spain at present.

Sure, the dancing was rife with energy and passion, with company founder Vernier sharing the bill with a couple of fiery cohorts, La Linda and La Otra.

This was good, spirited and taut flamenco, whether the emphasis of one cante jondo or other fell upon rapid guitar playing, stomping rhythms of the feet or dramatic, emotional vocals.

Come Monday, the focus in the alfresco riverside amphitheater shifts to the blues with the return of world-renowned slide guitarist Roy Rogers and his Delta Rhythm Kings blending American roots music into a wide mix of folk, jazz, rock and, of course, the blues. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by phoning 259-1600 or logging online at www.copia.org.