Gypsy jammer steps it up a notch

Suzie Harrison

After eight years of performing his gypsy guitar in various clubs and

small venues, Laguna Beach musician Emilio Castillo is finally making

it big.

Castillo will perform at the Irvine Barclay Theatre with a

20-piece orchestra and flamenco dancers.Saturday will be an

opportunity to sample his stylings on a large scale for Castillo’s

“Modern Gypsy Tour” concert.

“We have a 20-piece orchestra with full string and horn sections,”

Castillo said. “I did a 20 piece orchestra because I wanted to offer

people a full musical experience.”

A Laguna resident, Castillo has been playing flamenco guitar for

17 years.

“I’ve always played this style; it’s one of those things I wished

to play,” Castillo said. “It’s the one thing I thought, this really

drives me. So I just stuck to it.”

Flamenco has its own form, which Castillo doesn’t particularly

follow.

“My music is my own interpretation of it; I do the Emilio Castillo

version,” he said. “For it to be true flamenco, it would have to

follow a particular form. I kind of play freely, so it has a flamenco

feel, but not necessarily the true flamenco form.”

Castillo’s genre, modern gypsy, also fuses salsa, jazz and dance.

“It’s everything -- whatever I like is thrown in there,” Castillo

said. “That’s where the music is at now and its very exciting,

passionate music.”

Growing up in Spain, Italy and Mexico has influenced his style.

Other key performers are Andy Klyviaris, who plays first guitar

and the bouzouki, a Greek mandolin-type instrument. Spiro is on

second guitar, rhythm guitar and Roberto Vally is the bass player.

Laguna resident Thomas MacGregor will be on drums and Michael Ho

piano.

“And then we have Ron Powell on percussion,” Castillo said. “He

has performed with Madonna, Kenny G and Diana Ross. I’m very excited

to play with such great musicians.”

The show will also have traditional flamenco dancers blending

their tradition to his music, which has a similar feel.

He said flamenco guitar has its own particular technique. For

example, Castillo plays with his fingers rather than with a pick.

“Flamenco guitars have different wood and there’s some technical

things -- it’s built a little differently,” Castillo said.

Its build is similar to a classical guitar.

“But it has some differences,” Castillo said. “The face is less

bracing, so it has more of a drum effect.”

Spanish Cyprus or spruce wood is used, which creates a higher

pitch and a snappier tone.

Castillo has released three CDs, his latest at the end of 2003.

But he loves to perform live and is working on producing a live

album.

“It’s exhilarating to sit in front of an audience, play your

instrument as best as possible and try to influence people to feel

good,” Castillo said.

But he said no one inspires him more than his children and the

support of his wife.

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. at 4242 Campus Drive in Irvine.

For tickets call, (949) 854-4646 or go to https://www.thebarclay.org.

For information about Castillo, go to https://www.emilio.tv.