KEPA JUNKERA´S NEW WEBSITE

Today Kepa Junkera presents his new official website;

kepajunkera.com






A new place to meet and catch up on all the information about Kepa Junkera and his music. We invite you to come in and enjoy this fresh, beautiful, stylish, clean, clear, unique art design web…. just like his music.

The TRIKITIXA lands in the U.S.

Kepa Junkera produces 'HERRIA', his last album of his international collective project.

Article written by:
Maider IZETA | LOS ANGELES. News published in the Diario Vasco on June 6, 2010


He has recorded with singers of Iranian origin, Korean and Navajo Indian musicians.

A camera man and a photographer accompanies Kepa Junkera during this musical journey.

"The Basque people of California have given me a lot. They are people who enjoy these encounters "

"Years ago I made a bet. As a musician, you have to consider challenges. There are many artists I admire and with whom I have always wanted to collaborate and work with them it´s a source of energy for me. “These are the convincing words of the musician of Biscay, Kepa Junkera when he speaks of 'Etxea' and 'Kalea', the first two albums of his trilogy of Basque songs that will come to an end in a few months with 'Herria' and which is much more than a collection of traditional songs versions sung in Euskera by a wide range of guest artists.

The first two installments of this project which, judging by the given names to the records, travel from private space of home to the city's public, passing through the nexus of both, the street, were released 2008 and 2009, respectively. Today, Junkera is immersed in the production of 'Herria', the latest album of a project that, in the last legislature, was financially supported by the Basque Government.

As in the previous work, the Biscayan musician has been traveling to Europe, Africa and America in search of unique sounds to merge with the rhythmic melodies of trikitixa. This search has led him to settle temporarily in California. "I've been in cities like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Oakland ..., places that attract me much by its diversity," he says. In his visits to those cities, Junkera has recorded with Iranian-born singers, Korean musicians, Navajo Indians and a blues band, among others.

Continues to open doors

But Kepa Junkera´s project goes beyond the merely musical. His goal in this trilogy is, as he explains, "To open our music to the world. To do this, I have been helped by many interesting musicians, which I am very grateful. My goal is to continue to open doors. “Therefore, he visits cities like San Francisco or New York but not limited to long study sessions. Junkera spends time on the streets, collecting testimonies from people they have met during his travels.

A camera man and a photographer accompanies him on this musical journey. Some of the testimonies he has collected during his stay in California come from people of Basque origin. "I am very interested into uniting this chorus," says the trikitilari. "The Basque people of California have given me a lot. These are people who enjoy these encounters and the experience is very positive. I receive love from them.”

In California, the main Basque communities are located in San Francisco, Fresno, Bakersfield and Chino. The people from Chino, located an hour from Los Angeles, have been directly involved in producing the next album of Junkera. And that 'Herria' includes several songs recorded with the group NOKA. "We have recorded” Eperra' "and some other themes. It’s being a very nice experience, "says Kepa Junkera. NOKA consists of three female descendants of Basques. The trio just released their second album of Basque folk songs, a work that fits well with the Junkera´s project. Besides recording with NOKA, visiting Chino, Kepa Junkera has been able to met the Basque Diaspora and collect their testimonies. Several people from the Euskal Etxea Chino (Chino Basque Club) have worked with the Biscay musician during his stay in the Californian state.
Junkera´s album will be ready later this year: "I would like to release it in November. So my goal is to finish it by October. We'll see.” Although he doesn´t known the number of songs included in 'Herria', the musician Biscay is convinced that it will exceed the twenty songs. “It will be a double album as well. Follow the designs of 'Etxea' and 'Kalea'.” From now until late summer, Kepa Junkera will continue to reside in California to continue his musical project.


www.kepajunkera.com

June 1st KEPA JUNKERA will give a Masterclass and a small musical performance at the Stanford University, California

Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 18:00
Location: German Library, Pigott Hall, Room 252
Light refreshments will be served.


The composer and musician Kepa Junkera, one of the most important Basque musicians of our time, producer, performer and composer of all his songs of the 17 albums that make up, till today, his musical career, including his amazing Bilbao 00:00h as one of his key works. In 2004 Kepa received the Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Music for K and HIRI was named the best album of folk music in Europe by the World Music Charts.

Kepa Junkera will be introduced by the distinguished Basque writer, Bernardo Atxaga, who is Eusko Ikaskuntza Visiting Professor if the Basque Culture at Stanford University. Mr Kepa Junkera will offer an evening of Basque music spiced with the interpretation of a variety of traditional Basque music instruments.

KEPA JUNKERA will perform at the Chino Basque Club

Kepa 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.

Information gathered by the http://euskalkazeta.com

Accordian player and pianist make beautiful Basque music together in Boise

BOISE - Basque button accordion player Kepa Junkera, above left, is in Idaho working on a three-year project to record Basque music with musicians and singers from all over the world.

In Boise, he's recording with pianist Paul Tillotson, right, and singer Curtis Stigers, as well as bass player Rod Wray and drummer Spencer Martin from the Basque band Amuma Says No.

"Kepa is bringing Basque music and having American musicians interpret music in their own way," said Boise producer Gloria Totoricaguena. "Stigers and Tillotson grew up with Basque people; they know Basque culture and the Basques know them."

Junkera will give a free solo accordion concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Basque Center. "Indescribable," says Totoricaguena. "His accordion is his voice, his interpretation. It's a real lesson in artistry."


News and picture gathered from www.idahostatesman.com May 14,2010

KEPA JUNKERA LIVE in Boise ID.

Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera to perform in Boise on May 15th

Kepa Junkera is probably the best internationally known Basque musician in the world of Basque trikitixa diatonic accordion.

Grammy Award winning Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera will perform a free concert at the Basque Center this Saturday, May 15th, 2010, following the Mother's Day dinner.

Kepa Junkera is probably the best internationally known Basque musician in the world of Basque trikitixa diatonic accordion. Part of Junkera’s fame is his tendency to take traditional Basque music and give it a twist, creating something altogether new.

Beginning the instrument at a very young age, he was encouraged by his grandfather and his mother and Junkera quickly developed his own style. By 1983 he began playing with Oskorri, the leading Basque folk band of the day, performing and recording with them.

Kepa Junkera, from Busturia, Bizkaia, won his Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. He has two gold releases and won multiple international awards, bringing recognition to the Basque Country and appreciation to Basque music. He has recorded film soundtracks and 17 CDs and is finishing his latest CD featuring Boise musicians and singers.


Information from the eitb.com

www.kepajunkera.com

KEPA JUNKERA LIVE in Boise ID.