euskalkultura.eus

The album is already recorded and in a few weeks will be on the street.  They are Basques born in the USA who have grown up in the heart of their Basque communities, and who have now recorded some of their tunes, led by, Utah Basque, Jean Flesher.  “What Basque in the west hasn’t dance with his music in Basque festivals in Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho or Wyoming? Surrounded by some of his musician friends, they have now recorded their first album.  Reserve your copy online.

Salt Lake City, Utah.  This is a project among friends.  In its best sense, because that is how these things are done by those who have moved at the heart of  American Euskal Herria.  The members of Amerikanuak are born in the US, they are former dantzaris that have contributed playing music to the success of Basque festivals throught the West.  Jean himself has spent his entire live as a musician, since he was a teenager, more than 30 years on the roads in the west at Basque festivals from California to Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, Utah...  He has been asked often why he hasn’t done an album.  Now, surrounded by friend musicians, the moment has come for Amerikanuak.

The music is a collection of these dances, popular traditional music that has grown and cultivated its Basqueness through various generations of Basque Americans; music that comes directly from this tradition and transmission; or better said, it's the soundtrack of a large part of the history and North American Basque life.  Possibly some of the members of Amerikanuak listen to, and cultivate other kinds of music at home, but this is what they do when their Basque side comes out, when they are at Basque festivals and want to dance more traditionally Basque-American, what they grew up with and enjoyed, where some found their partner, and raised a family, music that their children enjoy and continue to play.  It is the soundtrack of the North American Euskal Herria.

Although Jean Flesher is from Utah, the album was recorded in California where the majority of the other members are from.  The musician friends, all at different times part of the Jean Flesher Band are: Pierre Igoa (designer; in charge of the album design and website), René Caballero, Michelle Iturriria, Christian Iribarren and Jean-Pierre Etchechury, without forgetting Jean Jules Flesher, Jean’s son who has begun playing the alboka and pandero, John Ehlis and Daniel Iribarren. Robert Iriartborde ha been the sound ingenieer.

All the benefits will go to the NABO Aita Tillous Found for grants to Udaleku kids that cannot afford the Udaleku expenses.

Now recorded, the album will be available in a few weeks.  As a way of presenting it the musicians performed this last weekend at the Bakersfield Basque Festival as Amerikanuak.  They are also playing at the event that annually takes place on Memorial Day Monday at the Woolgrowers Restaurant in Bakersfield. Once again, three generations of Basque-Americans dancing to the sounds of Amerikanuak.

Their website is now up (by Pierre Igoa), and can be found here: www.amerikanuak.com. Anyone wishing to connect with them on Facebook can do so here: www.facebook.com/Amerikanuak, and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amerikanuak.

If you’d like to support their project, or just reserve a your copy of the album, you can write them here, providing your information, leaving comments or letting them know how many copies you’ll need.

Zorionak!