Despite the chill of the global economic crisis, Shanghai's music life is getting hotter and hotter - especially with Spanish flamenco guitarist Abraham Carmona and his band heading to the stage with "Fire of Flamenco."

At the Sunday performance, Carmona's original compositions created during his past two years in Shanghai will set the mood. With his band, he will play tracks from his new album "Silencio" which was released last year and also flamenco music arranged for the solo guitar and voice.

Pure flamenco music, just guitar and voice, will be one of the concert's highlights, bringing authentic passions and style to an authentic moment.

Carmona was born in a musical family. He began his professional career as a composer, guitarist and singer 10 years ago in his homeland, in Andalucia in Spain.

His guitar playing is hypnotic and electrifying.

The strings dance, filled with power, freedom and intricate precision. His soulful genuine voice shares new emotional depths.

Carmona's eclectic and original sound combines the infinitely complex rhythms of flamenco with the influences of rumba, Latin, jazz, bossa nova, hip-hop and Arabic music all helping to create a dynamic and compelling performance that transcends boundaries and borders.

"I am weaving the different times of my life through the mix of flamenco with jazz, bossa and tango," says Carmona.

Today, flamenco has become the language in which he can most easily express himself as an interpreter or composer.

His travels and experiences outside his home country have brought to Abraham's compositions what he was looking for, an open musical style without fear, with flamenco as its base.

Two years ago, Carmona came to Shanghai to continue exploring and defining "the sound of his sound." He built up his band here two years ago with musicians from North and South America and Europe and the group includes players from Colombia, Cuba, US, Czech Republic, Spain and Brazil.

"I like to experiment with music, and the band provides more opportunities to try different arrangements which allow me to expand my range with my compositions, to open and discover more with the music," he says.

"I hope everyone will feel the passion of flamenco and be transported to my land, Andalucia," Carmona says.

Also at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, audience will be treated to a regular jazz salon.

The "Shanghai Night" Friday Night Jazz Salon takes the audience back to old Shanghai through classic jazz. From the opening show on March 20, the jazz salon will take place every third Friday night of the month.

In the hall, you can sip coffee while enjoying the music. Songs from the 1930s and 40s will be played on a recording and then modern performers will reprise with their versions of the classics.

Abraham Carmona

Date: March 8, 3pm

Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong

Tickets: 100-200 yuan

Tel: 6854-1234

(Shanghai Daily March 5, 2009)