As he continues to innovate with his musical style, renowned Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera will be playing at Basque clubs in Boise and Chino this month.
The world music and Basque folk music accordionist – known in Basque as a trikitilari because of the special diatonic button accordion he plays – has been working on a trio of CDs that include songs and music videos performed with a number of artists in the United States and Latin America.
The Grammy Award-winning Junkera will be visiting the Basque Center in Boise on Saturday May 15, where he will play in a free concert after a Mother’s Day dinner. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a no-host bar.
After Boise, Junkera will be visiting the Chino Basque Club on Saturday evening May 22. He previously played at the Basque Cultural Center.
Junkera told Euskal Kazeta that his visit to Chino will coincide with a recording session in Los Angeles, where he will perform with blues musicians. He also hopes to work on a new music video while he is in the area before returning to the Bay Area after the Chino concert. In recent months, Junkera has been trying something new by recording with artists from a variety of genres. The songs have been in Euskera, the Basque language.
Junkera is probably the best internationally known Basque musician. He won his Latin Grammy in 2003 for Best Folk Album.
Raised in the Basque province of Bizkaia, Junkera has temporarily relocated his family to the Bay Area while he works with different artists in the U.S. and Latin America.
(Updated: Kepa Junkera Chino video added)
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Kepa’s Jan. 22 performance at the Basque Cultural Center, filmed by Jean Paul Barthe. (Added March 29, 2010)
Kepa on myspace.
Kepa Junkera’s website
A song from Kepa’s Kalea album on Youtube
Maitia Nun Zira from Kepa’s Etxea album on Youtube
Kepa talks about the release of the first CD of the trilogy, Etxea on Youtube.
Juanes sings Aldapeko with Kepa on his album Kalea
Kepa plays in the Basque Country
