Ricardo Espinoza Lolas Hegel Today

Roger Espinoza's Café Fuego is a good example of what could be called "flamenco light" – in other words, modern flamenco-minded acoustic guitar playing that tends to be light (although not lightweight), relaxed, and pop-influenced. This 2002 release is hardly the work of a flamenco purist; Café Fuego is closer to Ottmar Liebert than Paco de Lucia or Tomatito. But not everyone who plays acoustic Spanish guitar is obligated to be another Tomatito, and even though Café Fuego isn't a masterpiece, it is enjoyable and fairly creative. Spanish flamenco isn't Espinoza's only influence; although the Los Angeles-based, Nicaraguan-born guitarist is very flamenco-minded, he isn't afraid to incorporate Afro-Cuban and South American elements.

With a style that is tastefully modern yet firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, Baltimore pianist Joshua Espinoza blends and bends genres into original compositions and arrangements that are immediately relatable, yet hard to define. Joshua has performed alongside such notable artists as Warren Wolf, Dezron Douglas, Jerome Jennings, Paul Bollenback, Miho Hazama, Alex Norris, John D’earth, Mike Pope, Kris Funn, Brian Settles, Todd Marcus, and Chuck Redd. A finalist in the 2018 Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition, his playing has been heard on stages large and small including the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, The Kennedy Center, the Barns at Wolftrap, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the DC Jazz Festival.