Calaita

Flamenco • Flamenco Rumba

BIOGRAPHY

‘Calaita - flamenco son’ are a 5-piece flamenco group based in Manchester, UK. Calaita are Chico Pere – voice and guitar, Diana Castro – voice, Glenn Sharp – guitar, Leo Paredes – Cajón and Matt Nickson – flute and saxophone. Calaita offer authentic flamenco throughout the UK. Their live concerts include traditional styles such as bulerias, alegrias, seguiriyas as well as more comtemporary flamenco rumbas. Calaita display passion and flamenco spirit, energy and spontaneity. Calaita can perform as a traditional duo with Chico Pere and Glenn Sharp, the core of the group, or as a full line-up with many guest musicians and dancers.

Recent gigs include:

El Parque del Salao, Lanjarón, Spain (flamenco fusion festival)

La Casita Papel, Granada, Spain

Royal Exchange Theatre, UK

Instituto Cervantes, UK 

The Dancehouse Theatre, UK

Cultural Collage World Music Festival

MEMBERS

Chico Pere

Chico Pere - Chico (José Antonio Peregrina) grew up in Triana, Seville and is from a family of flamenco singers.  On completing his training in Seville he moved to Barcelona where he worked with numerous bands including Ojos de Brujo. In the 1980’s Chico toured Andalucia as a singer and percussionist with a group specializing in Sevillanas and Rumbas. Chico then studied Piano and Flamenco Guitar at the Juan Pension Bon Academy, Barcelona, where he formed the group Vayatela and later completed his album, ‘Son las cosas del buen Son’. He arrived to Manchester in 2008 and joined ‘La Cartagenera’, ‘Pepe Leon’ and ‘El Afilaó’ to form Calaita. 

Glenn Sharp

Glenn has played guitar for the past 27 years and has studied with tutors including Juan Martin (UK) and Francisco Morales (Seville). Aswell as being a solo concert guitarist, he is a session player, composer and world music producer. He has gigged and toured with numerous world-music artists including Nitin Sawhney and Aref Durvesh, and has collaborated on world music projects internationally. Glenn is also the producer of the Jadid ensemble.

Leo Parades "Pepe El Leon"

Leo Parades "Pepe El Leon" from Seville, specializes in Flamenco cajón, African Djembe and Arabic Darbuka. Leo started out as the percussionist for Latimbah who played in Seville and at the Etno-Sur Festival in Jaén. Leo moved to Manchester in 2005 where he soon became involved in numerous performances and workshops. After additional study in Senegal with Kulaty Cabo he was then asked to join Manchester’s West African group Tanate, where he received further training from Seckou Keita. Leo has studied Flamenco cajón with many teachers but most recently with Roberto C Jaén of Cristina Hoyos’ Ballet Flamenco de Andalucia.

Diana Castro

Diana Castro is from Lanjarón, near Granada, Spain. Diana studied music at Granada University where she would start her career as a professional blues, jazz and soul singer. In 2007, she left Spain to go to Manchester, UK, where she met Chico Pere. As well as performing with Calaita, Diana is currently training in singing and music production at Salford Univeristy Diana was also the artistic co-ordinator of ‘Lanjarock’ festival in Spain for 2011.

Matt Nickson

Matt is a saxophonist and founder of Matt and Phred's Jazz Club. He has been one of the main driving forces in North West jazz over the last 20 years. Matt has a big “Dexter Gordon” like sound on tenor and a flowing melodic playing style. Matt was a notable session player with chart bands throughout the late 80s /90s, but it is his tireless promotion of jazz in Manchester which has taken up most of his time, leading to the foundation of Iroko records and Matt and Phred’s.

MULTIMEDIA

PRICES

Please enquire for prices (contact details below).

BOOK NOW!

Simply contact Rory Duffy, Development Assistant, via any of the following methods...

T: 44(0)1618303885 / 44(0)7737760520

E: roryduffy@bandonthewall.org

W: www.bandonthewall.org