Bay Area Flamenco presents:

The 6th Annual Bay Area Flamenco Festival

featuring the West Coast premiere of Diego El Cigala

Sunday, Oct. 23, 7 pm at Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Berkeley

Grammy Award winning Gypsy singer from Madrid, Spain Diego El Cigala is noted as a pioneer in fusing flamenco with Latin American music forms such as the bolero, Afro-Caribbean jazz and tango. His ability to blend different types of contemporary music with traditional flamenco has won him widespread popularity and numerous awards.

He is best known for his 2003 release "Lagrimas Negras" with legendary Cuban jazz pianist Bebo Valdes which was hailed Album Of The Year by the New York Times and received a Latin Grammy.

His solo recording "Picasso En Mis Ojos" won another Latin Grammy in 2006 and featured collaborations with the legendary Paco De Lucia and Latin Jazz greats such as Jerry Gonzalez.

His 2008 project "Dos Lagrimas" features giants of Cuban percussion, the late Tata Guines and Changuito. The recording also established his ongoing collaboration with guitarist Diego del Morao, pianist Jaime Calabuch Jumitus, percussionist Sabu Porrina and Cuban bassist Yelsy Heredia.

This year, Cigala has been nominated for yet another Grammy award for his latest album "Cigala and Tango" released in 2010 and featuring guest artists from Argentina such as Andres Calamaro, Nestor Marconi and Pablo Agri.

For tickets and festival information, visit www.bayareaflamencofestival.com

Co-Sponsored by KPFA