BIO

Kati Golenko and Miguel Reyes JIMÉNEZ are the heart of Flamenco Americana’s duo. Born in Chicago, USA, and Mexico City, MX, their passion for flamenco brought them together in Madrid, Spain.

 

Kati, one of the few women who professionally play the flamenco guitar, and Miguel, a master of the flamenco cajon with two published educational books, reject the notion that flamenco is only for people who were born into it, and invite foreigners to join the clan of flamenco bastards:

‘The global tribe of #flamencobastards are all us who were born outside of Spain, lacking flamenco purity in our veins, but for some strange reason, palpating with flamenco in our blood. We can´t speak to purity, but we can share what’s ours: technique, feeling, and strength. Flamenco Americana and the #flamencobastards continue to create that bridge where flamenco foreigners are recognized as an integral part of flamenco’s evolution. ´

During their live performances, the duo uses backing tracks with pre-recorded instruments such as synthesizers, palmas, the bass, and additional vocals that reflect the modernization of an evolving flamenco scene that doesn’t understand borders.

Under My Fingertips

No brilla el sol

I can't deny my fate

Somewhere over the rainbow

Islas del Cielo

Siempre te trengo presente

Ain't no sunshine

After the success of their first EP, ‘Flamenco Americana’ (2020), where they recorded flamenco covers such as ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ (Rumbas) and ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ (Colombianas), the duo recently launched their most daring single to date- ‘Under My Fingertips’.

The flamenco couple

Kati Golenko

Vocals and flamenco guitar

Singer and flamenco guitarist Kati Golenko began her musical studies with the classical piano at the age of seven and, two years later, the classical guitar. However, it was the raw emotions expressed through the intricate rhythms and oriental melodies of flamenco that captivated her and brought her to Seville, Spain during her undergraduate studies. 

She has pursued this passion since, studying the flamenco guitar with Enrique Vargas, Jose Jimenez ‘El Viejín’, ‘el Amir’, Rafael Andújar as well as flamenco singing with Montse Cortés.

 

She has performed in a wide variety of venues and festivals across Europe and the United States. Recent performances include the Flamenco on Fire Festival (Spain), Babel World Music Festival (Hungary) and the Spanish Embassy in Saudi Arabia. 

Miguel Reyes JIMÉNEZ

Drums and Percussion

With two published flamenco books, the Mexican percussionist Miguel Reyes Jiménez is a world-recognized flamenco rhythm teacher and director of his own flamenco company. As a producer and artistic director, he has created more than nine original productions including flamenco fusions with his Mexican culture such as the flamenco musical Malinche de Cortés and his project La Ranchulería.

From 1993 until 2001, he studied jazz drumming at the Musical Conservatory of the State of Mexico. He moved to Madrid in the same year that he finished his studies in Mexico, taking flamenco cajon classes at the Amor de Dios Center for Flamenco Arts and Casa Patas. In 2002, only a year into his flamenco studies, important flamenco artists such as Sara Lesana, Talegón de Córdoba, JJ Chaleco, Miriam Méndez and Oscar Herrero asked him to participate in their groups, playing in prestigious theaters in Spain and around the world (Peru, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, Tunisia, Cuba, etc.). Currently he’s writing his third flamenco book and promoting his most recent CD and show La Ranchulería. He’s also the manager and coordinator of flamenco shows at Alborada Musical Events.

Under My Fingertips
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