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Patricia has Mexican/Cuban musical roots and has performed with groups ranging from the Lyric Opera Children's Choir to several original and cover bands before venturing on her solo musical path and work with Las Guitarras. Patty has displayed amazing versatility and musicality in the two Las Guitarras releases. She has the ability to create vocal phrasing on the spot in many genres including Cuban music, Rhythm and Blues, Soul, and flamenco music. Patricia's considerable contributions to the ensemble are most clearly displayed in the latest CD release of the group. Patty also continues to study traditional flamenco cante: She has worked with recently with Curro Cueto, Antonio Vargas, Vicente Griego, and Alfonso Cid. Patricia also has recently studied flamenco cante with Chiqui de Jerez in Spain. As a composer, Patricia has co-written much of the Las Guitarras catalogue with guitarist, Carlo Basile.
Carlo Basile guitarist/composer
![]() Carlo Basile, guitarist, has a Master's Degree in Classical Guitar performance and pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University. His Master's Degree performance was titled "Flamenco Music and Spain's Nationalist Composers." Carlo also studied classical guitar with Anne Waller at Northwestern University for 7 years. He continues to study flamenco guitar in Cordoba and Sevilla Spain with various teachers including Luis Ruiz ("Calderito"). Internationally, Carlo has travelled to and collaborated with musicians from Rajasthan, India; Mirissa, Sri Lanka; Chang Mai, Thailand; Cebu, Philippines; Merzouga, Morocco; Camaguey and Havana, Cuba; Limassol, Cyprus; Zabalo, Ecuador, Paracho, Mexico, Mali and Senegal. As a composer, Carlo has written music for Clinard Dance Theatre productions, various radio and television spots, and he co-wrote and performed all of the music for the Steppenwolf Theatre's production of "Sonia Flew." Carlo most recently produced, wrote, and co-arranged music for the new Las Guitarras de España project entitled, "Music and Movement."
Wendy Clinard flamenco dancer
Wendy Clinard is Artistic Director of Clinard Dance Theatre a global interdisciplinary ensemble founded in 1999.After completing a BFA at The Art Inst of Chicago in 1993, Clinard embarked on a rigorous apprenticeship with flamenco dancer Edo Sie and augmented her studies in Spain with notable teachers such as: Juana Amaya and Hiniesta Cortez.In 1999 Clinard’s personal and global heritage found themselves in living Technicolor as she began choreographing original dance theatre. They have created four full evening works (Quest of Theseus, Shifting Landscapes, Unraveling Rhythms, Jondo Portraits) and several smaller choreographic works since 1999. Unraveling Rhythms toured India in 2005 and the Midwest in 2006/2007 and excerpts of Jondo Portraits were shared in Syria in summer 2009. Wendy has been a soloist and collaborator with Las Guitarras de España since 1999. The ensemble has traveled and performed extensively in the United States and abroad. Morikeba Kouyate kora Morikeba Kouyate is known throughout West Africa for his electrifying performances and virtuosity with the traditional African stringed instrument, the Kora. He was born and raised into a family of Griots, or Jalis, in Bounkiling Senegal. He began his training at the age of eight and was performing professionally by the age of fourteen. He became successful and well-known for his expert storytelling and Kora playing. As a result of his success, Morikeba was given the opportunity to have his own radio program in Dakar. His show was aired throughout Senegal and several other African countries. He also made numerous appearances on Senegalese television. Morikeba Kouyate has played before African royalty and the Presidents of several countries, including Senegal and The Gambia.
Greg Nergaard acoustic/electric bass
When it comes to playing bass, Greg Nergaard is all about laying it down. From tight, syncopated and articulate finger-funk to low-down, sonorous earth tones, Greg is a musician who believes in the groove and in the ability of a good rhythm section to heal what ails you. His experience outside of Las Guitarras de Espana ranges wide — from punk, jazz and Latin to funk, rock and hip-hop. He is a well-respected bassist in a town known for producing great bassists. Greg grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to a wide variety of music early on. He played in the school band, sang in choir and endured strictly enforced (and now greatly appreciated) piano lessons as a child. Nothing really convinced him to be a musician until he was 18, when he saved money from a summer job and purchased an electric bass. It changed his perspective on music almost immediately. Greg's education took place at Beloit College as a vocalist and eventually at American Conservatory, where he began to study bass seriously. Greg also spent over a year working and living in the Middle East and North Africa. Greg has also spent some time in Sevilla, Spain studying flamenco rhythms and grooves some of which can be heard in the latsest Las Guitarras' work.Donald Jacobs clarinet
Colin Bunn tres guitar/composer
Timo Lozano flamenco dancer/percussionist
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Diego Alonso guitarist
Douglas Brush percussionist/composer Doug is one of the most versatile percussionists in the Chicago area. Doug trained in classical music at the American Conservatory of Music and Roosevelt University, graduating with honors. In addition to a formal music education, he has studied with percussion masters in Cuba, Spain, North India, South India, North Africa, and West Africa among other locales. His teachers include percussion legends Jesus Diaz of Cuba and Mamady Kieta of Guinea. From 2000-2010 Doug performed, recorded, and composed with Las Guitarras de España. Doug currently resides in New Zealand and can be reached at www.dougbrushpercussion.com.
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When it comes to playing bass, Greg Nergaard is all about laying it down. From tight, syncopated and articulate finger-funk to low-down, sonorous earth tones, Greg is a musician who believes in the groove and in the ability of a good rhythm section to heal what ails you. His experience outside of Las Guitarras de Espana ranges wide — from punk, jazz and Latin to funk, rock and hip-hop. He is a well-respected bassist in a town known for producing great bassists. Greg grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to a wide variety of music early on. He played in the school band, sang in choir and endured strictly enforced (and now greatly appreciated) piano lessons as a child. Nothing really convinced him to be a musician until he was 18, when he saved money from a summer job and purchased an electric bass. It changed his perspective on music almost immediately. Greg's education took place at Beloit College as a vocalist and eventually at American Conservatory, where he began to study bass seriously. Greg also spent over a year working and living in the Middle East and North Africa. Greg has also spent some time in Sevilla, Spain studying flamenco rhythms and grooves some of which can be heard in the latsest Las Guitarras' work.
Clarinet and saxophone teacher and performer for over 25 years. Don has performed World music since 1983 with Terran Doehrer in the Jewish Klezmer revival band M'chaiya (1983-present), Jutta & the Hi-Dukes (Balkan, eastern-European and Scandinavian, 1990-present) and Razzematazz, a swing group (since 2002). He have played with Las Guitarras de Espana since the spring of 2003. He has also studied with Chicagoans Rich Corpolongo for jazz improv, Jim Stoynoff for Greek music, Kurt Bjorling or Klezmer, and George Silfies of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for classical music.
Colin Bunn’s guitar sound comes from all over the world. He began his guitar studies at age 14 in Madrid, Spain and continued to add new dimensions to his style while living and studying in Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Cambodia.He completed his formal training at Northwestern University earning his Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar As a classical guitarist he has been featured as a soloist with the Elgin Symphony, in the Newberry Library’s Festival of the Arts, and at the Taste of Chicago. His guitar playing can also be heard in radio and television jingles and has been showcased in the Chicago theater productions of “Always Patsy Cline” (Apollo Theater) and“Hair” (Athenaeum). He has recorded two full length CDs of original guitar music, Asleep in a Riverbed and Tierra del Fuego, both of which are available from HotCross records. He has also recorded and toured the UnitedStates and Europe with a variety of musical artists including Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire (Palm Pictures) and Kevin O’Donnell’s Quality 6 (Delmark.)
Timo Lozano began his dance training at the early age of 6, and at 17 while performing at a tablao in his home town of San Antonio,Texas he was discovered by the internationally known Spanish Dancer Jose Greco. Mr.Greco was so impressed with Timo's performance, that he asked Timo to join his company that same night. After touring the world as a soloist with the Jose Greco Spanish Dance Company for several years. Timo moved to Spain where he then performed with some of the most famous dance companies in Spain such as MARIA ROSA, RAPHAEL DE CORDOBA, MARIA BENITEZ and CIRO. Timo also danced along side some of the greatest flamenco dancers such as MATILDE CORAL, RAPHAEL EL NEGRO, ANGELITA VARGAS, LA CHANA and many more. Besides dancing flamenco as well as classical Spanish dance, Timo is also recognized as a highly acclaimed cajon player. Timo has played the cajon for SARA BARAS and EVA YERBABUENA in the documentary movie "FLAMENCO WOMEN" directed by MIKE FIGGIS who also directed the movie LEAVING LAS VEGAS. 
Diego Alonso (Diego-Alonso Audette-Aste) studied flamenco guitar with Fernando Moreno, Jose Luis Balao, Manuel Lozano "El Carbonero" (Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz), and José "Pansequito Hijo" Cortés (Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz), and studies jazz theory with David Bloom (Bloom School of Jazz, Chicago). Fernando Moreno, José Cortés, and David Bloom have been Diego's most influential teachers, helping him secure a strong technical and theoretical foundation in guitar.
Doug is one of the most versatile percussionists in the Chicago area. Doug trained in classical music at the American Conservatory of Music and Roosevelt University, graduating with honors. In addition to a formal music education, he has studied with percussion masters in Cuba, Spain, North India, South India, North Africa, and West Africa among other locales. His teachers include percussion legends Jesus Diaz of Cuba and Mamady Kieta of Guinea. From 2000-2010 Doug performed, recorded, and composed with Las Guitarras de España. Doug currently resides in New Zealand and can be reached at