Mediterranean Women in Action featuring Aynur, Josemi Carmona, and Javier Colina

The Spanish flamenco trio formed by Josemi Carmona, Javier Colina and ‘Bandolero’ join Aynur in a concert to raise awareness for gender equality.

The Mediterranean Music Institute launches the Mediterranean Women in Action (MWiA) Initiative with a concert featuring one of the most well known musicians from Turkey, the Kurdish musical icon Aynur, accompanied by Kurdish tenbûr player Cemil. The MWiA Initiative seeks to raise awareness and promote gender equality in the Mediterranean music scene.

In support of this initiative, a Spanish jazz flamenco trio formed by guitarist Josemi Carmona, double bassist Javier Colina, and percussionist ‘Bandolero’ José Manuel Ruiz Motos open the concert. Aynur will perform with a student band under the direction of Matthew Nicholl and Javier Limón.

Josemi Carmona

Josemi Carmona is one of the fundamental figures in the recent history of Spanish music, flamenco, and guitar. A son of maestro Pepe Habichuela, Josemi is an heir to a crucial 4-generation legacy of decisive Granada artists. At 14 years of age he joined Ketama, one of the most influential and revolutionary bands in Spanish music, selling over 1 million of their 14 albums. Simultaneously, he closely collaborated with world-class artists such as Paco de Lucía, Alejandro Sanz and Jorge Pardo, and as producer for Niña Pastori and La Barbería del Sur.

Javier Colina

Javier Colina is one of the best double bass players of the current scene, a self-taught musician who started on his own after studying piano, accordion and guitar. An artist with an unquenchable curiosity, Colina has travelled –literally and artistically– to countless musical places and expressions, with a depth and knowledge seldom seen. His career has led him to play with renowned jazz musicians such as George Cables, Tete Montoliú, Chucho Valdés, Jerry González, Perico Sambeat and Jorge Pardo.

Bandolero

José Manuel Ruiz Motos, better known as ‘Bandolero’, is one of the most recognized percussionists in the current flamenco scene. Born in Madrid in 1976, he began his musical career by accompanying some great flamenco artists such as Antonio Canales, Joaquín Grilo, Manuela Vargas, Merche Esmeralda and Sara Baras. Joaquín Cortés and his flamenco dance company gave him the chance to tour in the best international venues such as the Radio City Music Hall of New York, the Sydney Opera House or the Royal Albert Hall.