¡SABOR!
Sabor n.m. taste; savor; flavor
Sample a flavorful variety of Latin music with this concert series.  From Latin Jazz, to traditional South American folk music, to Cuban ballads and more, The Seasons invites you to delight your senses, break out your dancing shoes, and take a trip through  the richness of Latin culture and music.  Each concert will include a brief intro and maybe even dance instruction.

Sonando       
Saturday, Feb. 6,  7:30PM     $15
Described as “vastly
underappreciated,” in January 2008, this hot Latin jazz group received the recognition it deserved when awarded the Earshot Golden Ear Award for Best Acoustic Jazz Group of 2007.
Featuring some of the Northwest’s most experienced musicians, Sonando has been performing at festivals, clubs, and  concerts for nearly two decades.  As the groups usual bassist Ben Verdier aptly describes, “...this group combines all of the best elements: the strength of the rhythms that come from Cuba and Puerto Rico and other places, the improvisational aspects of jazz, and the harmonies that come from classical music. This is the pinnacle of what you can do with music right now.” Their lineup includes: Fred Hoadley - piano/tres
    Chris Stover - trombone
    Pedro Vargas - congas/percussion
    Junior Medina - timbales/percussion
    Jeff Norwood - bass

Los Flacos
Saturday, Mar. 27, 7:30PM    $15
Accompanied by two dancers, Los Flacos perform a blend of the spiciest traditional sounds of Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. Using a variety of instruments, some indigenous to the Americas and others of European and African origin, they create their own renditions of the songs of Latin America.
Juan Serbulo is a self-taught musician born in Oaxaca, Mexico. The windy tropical Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a region rich with boleros, tropical dance music, and traditional rhythms inspire his musical style. In 2004 Serbulo composed music for the documentary film, “Bi-National Dreams”, about his home state.
 Tim Wetmiller studies the music of Juan Reynoso and other great violinists in the region known as Tierra Caliente, in the states of Michoacan and Guerrero. He also plays gypsy swing and bluegrass with Northwest bands.
Abel Rocha is a Mexican-born vocalist interpreter of “Jarocho music” and player of many instruments native to Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina, including Venezuelan harp and cuatro, quinta huapanguera, and guitar.
Diego Coy was born in Santiago de Cali, Colombia. Coy plays the quena, quenacho, and the zampona plus other woodwinds and percussion instruments native to the Andean region. He applies improvisation to traditional music in a unique way.

Charanga Danzón
Saturday, May 1, 7:30 PM       $20
The seven talented musicians of Charanga Danzón will bring you Cuban dance music, ballads, and music by classical Cuban composers. (traditional form to include: charanga, son/danzón, and cha-cha-chá)
Led by classically trained violinist Irene Mitri,  whose versatility has allowed her to share the stage with a broad range of artists including Yo-Yo Ma.  The ensemble includes six other accomplished musicians.
Havana born, Pedro Vargas began playing congas at just eight years old. In 1997, he began touring with Barbarito Torres of “Buena Vista Social Club.”  Pedro recorded two albums with Barbarito, including the Grammy nominated “Barbarito Torres.”
Jim O’Halloran, flute, Fred Hoadley, piano, and Ben Verdier, bass, have all performed extensively in the Northwest with many other bands. Both Jim O’Halloran and Fred Hoadley have founded their own groups.
Andrew Schloss, percussion, released his first recordings of Cuban music in the early 1980’s, and in 1994 and 1996 he was the musical director of the acclaimed !Afrocubanismo! Festival at Banff, in which many of Cuba’s top artists participated.
Francisco Medina Jr. (“Junior”) grew up listening to classic bands such as Conjunto Clasico, El Gran Combo, Fania All-Stars, and Willie Rosario. In his 25-year career in music, he has shared the stage with many top artists including Tito Puente, Pink Martini, Sonora Dimanita and, Oscar De Leon.
Michael Nicolella is recognized as one of America’s most innovative and eclectic classical guitarists. Classical Guitar magazine recently referred to him as “one of the contemporary guitar’s most gifted stars,” and the Washington Post stated, “Since the passing of Andres Segovia the guitar world has needed an advocate... perhaps Michael Nicolella is that person.”
Don’t miss these talented musicians!