Potaje Ensemble
Potaje was founded in 1992 by Chus Alonso with the artistic objective of exploring the musical connections between Spain and the Americas. Since that time Potaje has created and performed a blend of contemporary Flamenco, Latin music and jazz, developing an original style, both innovative and traditional-respectful of the old musical forms, but open to contemporary ways of expression. In the framework of this ensemble, world class Flamenco, Latino-American and classical musicians and dances have collaborated to build a musical bridge, linking Spain with the Americas, among them: Flamenco dancers, La Tania and Carola Zertuche; Flamenco guitarists, Guillermo Ríos and Jorge Liceaga; Percussionists, Roberto Borrell, Michael Spiro, Sage Baggott, Brian Rice and Omar Ledezma; violinists, Tregar Otton and Rachel Durling; pianist, Paula Dreyer; and bassist Steve Senft-Herrera.
Potaje has played in a wide variety of venues, including the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, American Festival of San Jose, Performing Arts Center of Monterey, San Jose Jazz Festival, Mosconi Center and The Fillmore in San Francisco, Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley, Performing Arts Series of San Jose, and La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley. In addition, Potaje toured Spain in 2001. The ensemble has also been involved in educational workshops for children with "Adventures in Music", an educational program of the San Francisco Symphony, and Young Audiences of the Bay Area, an arts organization that brings artist to schools.
Potaje has published two CDs, one in 1999 entitled Charanga Flamenca, and another one in 2008 entitled Flamenco Cat.
Potaje Quartet
Chus Alonso, Paula Dreyer
Potaje at Bolero
Potaje with La Tania
Potaje with La Tania
Potaje in San Jose
Paula, Chus
