Benise’s ‘Fuego!’ show will fire up Packard hall

Staff report

WARREN

Benise, the Spanish guitarist whose “Fuego!” production premiered on PBS last summer, will bring the fiery show to W.D. Packard Music Hall on Tuesday.

“Fuego!” takes audiences on a journey to Spain through the country’s passionate music and dance.

Backed by a full complement of musicians and elaborately costumed dancers, Benise puts a twist on Spanish classics such as “Granada,” “Malaguena” and “Moonlight Sonata.”

Flamenco dancers take center stage in a tribute to Old World Spain that features colorful fashions and innovative staging and choreography.

“This is a great show for the whole family,” said the artist in a news release. “I really think we have something for everyone.”

Benise – pronounced Buh-nes-say – described how he put together his show.

“I wanted to push the boundaries of traditional Nuevo Flamenco and Spanish guitar while combining the elements of dance and theater,” he said, calling “Fuego!” a celebration of music, love and life.

Benise received his first guitar at age 11 and – through relentless practice – became a self-taught master with a signature sound that blends several formal styles.

His original compositions are both wild and refined, and reflect his own experiences.

“I’m always inspired by places I’ve traveled,” he said, “so I’ll try to capture the essence and beauty of the different places in my melodies. It’s truly like painting on air – creating colors and lush soundscapes that take people away to a place with no boundaries.”

The Nebraska native, born Roni Benise, moved to Los Angeles and launched his career by performing in the streets.

He would next promote his own concerts in Southern California, attracting audiences with exotic drums, Gypsy violin, Flamenco dancers, Cirque performers, Brazilian Samba dancers and percussionists, African tribal drummers and Havana horns.

Along the way, he released 13 albums on his own record label, Spanish Guitar Entertainment, plus five DVDs.

The recordings capture his expressive Spanish guitar arrangements that have their roots in Spain, Africa, Brazil, the Mediterranean, Cuba, India and Egypt.