Chuscales

“Chuscales” was the name given to composer and virtuoso flamenco guitarist Jose Valle Fajardo by his gypsy grandfather. Born in Antequera, Spain, Chuscales grew up in a traditional gypsy family of professional flamenco dancers and musicians who lived and performed in the famed gypsy caves of the Sacromonte quarter in Granada, one of the legendary cradles of flamenco. During the nightly shows in his grandmother’s cave, he absorbed the rhythms of flamenco dancing and the nuances of flamenco singing. Chuscales recalls, “I wish you could have seen it . . . the families in the caves and the singing and dancing. There might be seven, eight, maybe nine caves, and there would be more singing and dancing on the streets every day. It was unbelievable. . . . A lot of people don’t have my luck . . . learning flamenco in a Gypsy family where the music is passed down from tradition to tradition, from legend to legend. I thank God I was around such great musicians all my life . . . This is where I learned everything — the rhythm, the compas, the guitar. I am still learning from those thousands of nights performing with my family, with my father, my grandfather, and my friends.” Chuscales began formal guitar lessons at age six under the instruction of his uncle Joaquín Fajardo and Maestro Agustinillo, two prominent guitar masters in the region. He began his performing career, however, as a dancer, an experience that provided him a deep understanding of the baile’s subtle nuances. Chusco explains . . . “I can understand and follow dancers. I can see where they are going before they take their next step. I know what a dancer is looking for, how much tension should be in the music, the right rhythm, when to play strong or soft . . . so if a dancer asks me for something, I know what they want.” Throughout his distinguished career, Chuscales has accompanied such Spanish flamenco luminaries as El Farruco, Mario Maya, El Guito, La Singla, La Polaca, La Chunga, Pepa Coral, Juan Ogalla, Soledad Barrio, Carmen Ledesma, Jose Merce, Jose Mendez, Manolo Cano, Serranito and Juan “El Lebrijano.” He has toured with the dance companies of Mario Maya, Jose Greco, Zorongo Flamenco, Carlota Santana, Maria Benitez, Juan Siddi and a world tour as principal guitarist with Soledad Barrios’ Noche Flamenca. He has been a featured performer at the Telluride Jazz Festival, the Santa Fe Jazz & International Music Festival, and the Hollywood Bowl World Music Festival, He has performed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and in his home town of Santa Fe, Chuscales has been principal guitarist and musical director for Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco and Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe. Most recently he performed at the Tucson Flamenco Festival and in May he will perform at the Houston Flamenco Festival. Because of his profound understanding of flamenco musical traditions, Chuscales has been much in demand as a teacher. He has taught at Santa Fe Community College, Northern New Mexico College, the National Institute of Flamenco, The Institute for Spanish Arts, Dartmouth University, the University of New Mexico and the Minneapolis and Calgary Guitar Societies. For his musical artistry Chuscales has received numerous award nominations and honors: an Isadora Duncan Dance Award in 1997 for Composition/Arrangement and Direction and a nomination in 2011 in the category of Music/Sound/Text. He was honored with Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations from the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts in 2010, 2009 and 2007 for Outstanding Sound Design and Composition. In 2009 Chuscales was chosen to perform for the Crown Prince and Princess of Spain during the Santa Fe 400th Anniversary celebrations. Film credits include the Spanish film Camelamos Naquerar (1976); original theme music for the American documentary Gypsy Heart (1998); and the documentary films El Payo (2010), Sobre Las Olas (2013) and Españoles Por El Mundo Nuevo Mexico (2013). This is the page about world well-known flamenco guitarist CHUSCALES.