WOMAD

Candela

From Spain, United Kingdom

Candela was formed back in 1999 by guitarist, guitar-maker and ethnomusicologist, Paul Aguilera. The aim was to develop a modern and forward-looking repertoire of flamenco, mixed with other Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern, jazzy and Celtic flavours. The current line-up includes Philippe Barnes, a flautist of exceptional talent who has been a finalist at the BBC Young Folk Musician of the Year Awards, Fernando ‘El Cubano’ who sings with that crucial flamenco soul, Ben Sarfas, a jazz violinist with impressive improvisational abilities, Gerry Mapstone who is well on the way to mastering the rigours of flamenco guitar and Miller ‘El Garbanzo’, a virtuoso cajon percussion player. This is a Celtic-Mediterranean cous cous that definitely has the requisite flavour!