Healing Harmony Concert Series

benefitting Highest and Best Needs of TMC Health

"The Tango Guitar Project” is a new local ensemble consisting of highly accomplished classical guitarists: the project’s creator and director, Maxi Larrea (Argentina), with Andres Pantoja (Chile). Together, The Project performs new compositions and original arrangements, showcasing a repertoire of traditional and contemporary tango pieces by Latin American composers from countries such as Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Brazil. In addition to their duo repertoire, each of the members showcase their individual skills introducing audiences to the beauty of Argentine tango arrangements for solo guitar.  

Grupo Riken has been performing in the Tucson area since 2009, specializing in folk music from the Caribbean and Latin America, including Cuban bolero, Puerto Rican jibaro music, Latin jazz, salsa, and bossa nova. The group’s unique sound comes from folk instruments such as the Puerto Rican cuatro, Peruvian cajón, and Afro-Caribbean bongos and congas. The name Riken derives from the name used by the indigenous Tainos in Puerto Rico, who call the island “Boriken.” Grupo Riken has performed at Tucson Meet Yourself, Tohono Chul Park, and in 2016 released their first CD De Aqui Pa’ Allá. Their members include José Luis Puerta, guitar; Alexis Rivera, cuatro; and David Pérez, percussion.

benefitting TMC Healing Art Program

Angelina Ramirez is a flamenco movement and teaching artist. As a teaching artist, she is interested in the intersections of arts and healing, focusing on work with elders of all abilities and integrated flamenco for neurodivergent participants.

She is joined on the stage by Misael Barraza-Diaz, an internationally renowned flamenco guitarist who has won ten international and more than 30 regional and national competitions. As such, he has become one of the top flamenco guitarists in the country, sought after for his skills as a soloist and as an accompanist. Collaborator and singer Melani “Mele” Martinez has studied flamenco for over 30 years and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction. Her first book, The Molino: A Memoir, was recently published by UA Press.

She regularly performs in local tablaos with her husband, Jason Martinez, a dancer and cajón player. Jason’s training began in 1998 with the Encinias family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Angelina, Mele and Jason are original members of Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company in New Mexico.