About Roger Scannura
Roger Scannura
Flamenco Guitarist/Composer
Roger Scannura is an internationally recognized flamenco guitarist and a leading exponent of Nuevo Flamenco.Scannura was born on the history drenched island of Malta.
His early schooling began at the Franciscan Monastery of St. Theresa where he was tutored in European history, Latin, fine art and art restoration.
He has been immersed in music since early childhood and mastered the techniques and nuances of Flamenco guitar while in Spain for 12 years under the auspices of Pepe Habichuela and other gypsy masters.
He has toured Europe and North America as a soloist and as a Music Director for several flamenco dance companies. He is also a founder of the acclaimed Toronto based dance company Ritmo Flamenco.
Scannura with his group has performed for Prime ministers,Dignitaries as well as an assortment of celebrities including,Russell Crowe and Sting.
Scannura has recorded six cds of original flamenco music encompassing both traditional and modern styles.
Dicography:
Spanish Dance ( Solo guitar 1991)
Ritmo Flamenco (Solo Guitar 1994)
Saracen ( Guitar,percussion,flute and Sax 1996)
Medina ( Guitar,vocals and percussion 1998)
Misterio (Guitar,Vocals,Violin,Mandola and percussion 2000)
Encore! ( Guitar,violin,mandola ,percussion 2003)
Noche Flamenca (Guitar ,violin and percussion 2005)
"...a gifted composer whose music is as beautiful as it is haunting."-The Globe and Mail
"Rarely is Flamenco guitar played so eloquently with just the right amount of passion and grace."-20th Century Guitar Magazine
Influences
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<p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">For Immediate Release</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="text-align: center; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">Roger Scannura releases New Disc</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">'Noche Flamenca'</span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; min-height: 14px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; min-height: 14px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">Canada's acclaimed, pre-eminent flamenco guitarist, Roger Scannura</span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">has just released his sixth disc titled 'Noche Flamenca', an homage to</span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">Jerez, Spain and the improvised evenings that take place at flamenco</span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">gatherings.</span><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">It is also symbolic of the nomadic life of the gypsies and</span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-weight: bold" class="Apple-style-span">the importance of family which gives their life continuity.</span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; min-height: 14px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; min-height: 14px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">This is Scannura's most soulful disc to date however, the opening title "Noche Flamenca'</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">starts the album on a note of intensity with the raging compass of the hard driven Bulerias.</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">'Burning Bridges' is a rumba played in the key of the flamenco Taranta which gives this</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">cut a deep arabic flavour. 'Leyena y Sola' (Soleares) is the root of expression in flamenco</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">and encompasses a wide berth of playing styles. 'En Malaga' is a live cut from a recent</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">tablao-style performance with dynamic castanet and violin accompaniment. Scannura has</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">dedicated several pieces to his family members like 'Santuario por Manuel' and 'El Surco' </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">flamenco dancer daughter, Anjelica. </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">Accompanying Roger on the disc are Laurence Stevenson playing melodic counterpoint on</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">fiddle and mandola, the strong percussive skills of Kevin 'Quevedo' Smith and the flamenco</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">palmas and castanets are by Scannura's wife, Valeria. </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; min-height: 12px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">Roger Scannura has toured Europe and North America as a soloist and as music director of Ritmo </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">Flamenco Dance & Music Ensemble. He is tutor of flamenco guitar and a faculty member of the</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"> York University Music Department. Scannura's repertoire consists of 5 CD's</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">of original music all of which have been received with great critical praise. He is the recipient of the</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">prestigious Toronto Arts Award for composition and has composed music for award winning </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">documentaries on TVO (Expulsion & Memory) as well as for film.</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; min-height: 11px; margin: 0px"> </p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">For inquiries: Roger Scannura</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">416-763-0181</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">www.ritmoflamenco.ca</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px">scannura@yorku.ca</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin: 0px"> </p>