Photo by Morgan Smith   

 "Chuscales" 

This was the name given to Jose Valle Fajardo by his grandfather. Since then, the name Chusco has come to describe a guitarist of consummate skill and a profound understanding of the Flamenco traditions. 

A native of Antequera, Spain, Chuscales grew up in a traditional gypsy family known for its professional musicians and dancers. His grandmother was among those who lived in the caves of Sacromonte, one of the legendary cradles of flamenco. Chuscales recalls, "There were shows with Gypsies from Granada who grew up in families that lived there. I wish you could see it, the families in the caves and the singing and dancing. There might be seven, eight, maybe nine caves, all with singing and dancing, and there would be more singing and dancing on the streets every day. It was unbelievable. It was a very formative time in my life. It was like a dream. This is where I learned everything — the rhythm, the beat, the guitar. I am still learning from those thousands of nights performing with my family, my father, my Grandfather, and my friends. 

Chusco began guitar lessons at age six under the instruction of his uncle Joaquín Fajardo and Maestro Agustinillo, two prominent masters in the region where such greats as Segovia have studied. As a teenager, Chuscales found himself in the company of Paco de Lucía, who often performed in the area and would take time to play with the talented youngster and answer his questions. Meanwhile, he began his performing career as a dancer — an experience that gave him a detailed understanding of flamenco's rhythmic nuances. Chusco elaborates as the accompanying guitarist, "I can understand and follow dancers. I can see where they are going before they take their next step. I know what the dancer is looking for, how much tension is in the music, the right rhythm when to play strong or soft, so if a dancer asks me for something, I know what they ask." Chuscales' affinity for dance is delightfully apparent in his artistry; blending music and movement as he does is no accident. "It's something we learn through life," he says. "Many people don't have my luck to grow up in the caves, learning flamenco in a Gypsy family where the music comes from tradition to tradition, from legend to legend. I thank God I have been around such great musicians all my life. 

Whether versed in flamenco traditions or not, audiences find Chuscales' music touching and exotic; his presence is engaging, and his skill as a guitarist is simply astounding. A Chuscales concert is an experience that audiences take with them. 

Chuscales performed in many productions, including “Memories of Granada” (2024), “Doce Mujeres – 12 Women – The Power of Women “ (2024), “Guitar and Tree” (2024), "Flamenco Passion" (2023), "Chuscales at Tulsa" (2023), "Four Seasons" (2023), "Chuscales & Friends" 

  (Santa Fe, NM 2022), "Festival Flamenco 2021" (Albuquerque, NM 2021), "Lemon & Orange" (Santa Fe, NM 2021), "Tree of Life" (Santa Fe, NM 2020), "Gypsy Moon & Stars" (Santa Fe, 2019), "Tulsa Jazz Festival" (Tulsa, OK 2019), "Monet's Moon" (Santa Fe, NM 2019) "Feria de Abril in Santa Fe" (Santa Fe, NM 2019), "Monet's Moon" (Santa Fe, NM 2018), "Holiday Dream" (2018), "Carmen La Golondrina" (Santa Fe, NM 2018), "The Little Match Girl" (Santa Fe, NM 2017), "Dance with Spirit" (Santa Fe, NM 2017), "Illusions in Arts "Calligraphy & Choreography" (Santa Fe, NM 2017), "Romance de la Luna "(Santa Fe, NM, 2016), "Una Nota de Lorca" (Santa Fe, NM 2021 & 2016), "Gypsy Book" (Santa Fe, NM 2015), "Flamenco Masters at Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre" (Denver, CO 2015), "Houston Spanish & Flamenco Festival 2015" (Houston, TX 2015), "Flamenco X3" (Santa Fe, NM 2015), "Gypsy Passion" (Santa Fe, NM 2014), "Flamenco Fiesta!" (Santa Fe, NM 2014 & 2013), "Forever in My Heart" (Santa Fe, NM 2013), "My Gypsy Soul" (Santa Fe, NM 2012), "Chuscales at Old Main, Boulder" (Boulder, CO 2011), "Chuscales y Mina Fajardo con Las Tres Mujeres" (Las Vegas. NM, 2010), "Chuscales Live at MIT" (Boston, MA 2009), Telluride Jazz Festival (Telluride, CO 2008), "Chuscales at Tubac" (Tubac, AZ 2007), "Soul del Arte Tradiciones e Innovaciones" (San Francisco, CA 2005), "Ainadamar, Landscapes and Impression" Santa Fe Opera (Santa Fe, NM 2005), "A Night of Flamenco Magic" Lakewood Cultural Center (Denver, CO 2005), "Santa Fe Jazz and International Music Festival" (Santa Fe, NM 2004 & 2001), The John E. Morlow Guitar Series "Flamenco Night" (Chevy Chase, MD 2004), SJC Multicultural Arts Series "Flamenco" (San Juan Capistrano, CA 2003), ‘Maria Benitez Theater Flamenco” (1981-2006), “Juan Siddi Flamenco & Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (2008-2017). 

He played the guitar for the Prince and Prince of Spain at Santa Fe in 2009. He appeared in films "Camelamos Nauerar" (1976), "The Flamenco Guitar of Jose Valle" (1985), "Gypsy Heart" (1998), "Flamenco Passion & Soul" (1999), "Viaje Al Duende" (2009), "The Spanish Table" (2010) and "El Payo" (2010), "Españoles en el Mundo - Nuevo Mexico" (2013), "CNN Hero – Roger Montoya" (2019), "Univision – Salvador Ruiz Esquivel "(2022), 

He received The New Mexico Music Hall of Fame award (2023), The Dora More Award for outstanding sound design/composition (2010, 2009 & 2007) Isadora Duncan Awards for composition, arrangement, and direction (2011 & 1997). CDs: "Al Alba" (1988), "Formas e Imagenes" (1991), "Forever in My Heart" (1996), "Soul Encounters" (1999), "Midnight in Madrid" (2001), "Best of Narada New Flamenco Guitar" (2003), "El Payo" (2010), "Azafrán" (2018), "A Time of Silence" (2020), "Natural Meditation (2020), "O Holy Night" (2021), "Holiday Flamenco" (2022). 

Photo by Stan Obert  

Mina Fajardo was born in Japan. She is a singer-songwriter and composer renowned as a flamenco dancer, playwright, choreographer, and teacher. She teaches flamenco dancing and singing at several schools, including SFCC, Moving Arts Espanola, and Española Public School. In the past 38 years, she has choreographed and performed more than 5,000 concerts. 

Mina Valle Fajardo, “Mina,” has received extensive training in flamenco, Escuela bolero, Jazz, Tap, and ballet. Mina has received flamenco training from El Guito, Carmela Greco, Ciro, La Tati, La China, Alejandro Granados, Yolanda Heredia, Isabel Bayon, Juan Andres Maya, Rafaela Carrasco, Pastora Galvan, Karime Amaya, Mercedes de Cordoba, Nazaret Reyes, Jose Maya, Ursula Lopez, Adela Campallo, Rafael Campallo, Concha Vargas, Eva La Yerbabuena, Farruquito, La Lupi, Andres Marin, Joaquin Ruiz, and Keiko Issiki. 

She has taught in the Maria Benitez Institute for Spanish Arts, Northern New Mexico University, Santa Fe Community College, Eva Encinias Sandoval’s National Institute of Flamenco, Nava Elementary School, Sweeney Elementary School, James A Rodriguez Elementary School, Chimayo Elementary School, Carlos Vigil Middle School, The New Mexico Academy of International School, Santa Fe High School, Santa Fe Danceworks, Moving Arts Española, Maria Vazquez Flamenco Denver, The Spanish Institute of Dance in Houston, Texas, and Fazil Dance Studio & Japanese Chamber of Commerce in New York City. 

Fajardo has performed in Japan, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Houston, Maryland, Tulsa, and Albuquerque and has made several television appearances in Manhattan, New Mexico, Japan, and Spain. In Santa Fe, she has performed at the Santa Fe Opera and the Santa Fe Jazz and International Music Festival at the Lensic Theatre. 

She has performed with many artists, including Elena Andujar, El Pripi, La Tibu, Carmen Rasarao, Chuscales, YiYi, Silverio Heredia, Tequila de Jerez, Omayra Amaya, Jose Cortes, Manuel Gutierrez, Kina Mendez, Jose Cortes, Juan Siddi, Raquel & Amparo Heredia and Keiko Isshiki. 

She choreographed and performed in many productions, including “Guitar and Tree” (2024), “Holiday Flamenco” (2023), “Flamenco Passion” (2023), “Chuscales at Tulesa” (2023), “Sleeping Woman Mountain” (2023), “The Four Seasons & Poetry of Antonio Machado” (Santa Fe, NM, 2022), “Memories of Doña Tules” (Santa Fe, NM, 2021), “ Orange & Lemon” (Santa Fe, NM, 2021), “Tree of Life” (Santa Fe, 2020), “Gypsy Moon & Stars” (Santa Fe, 2019), “Monet’s Moon 2019” (Santa Fe. 2019), “Tulsa Jazz” (Tulsa, OK. 2019), “Felia de Abril” (2019), “Holiday Dream” (Santa Fe, 2019), “Monet’s Moon” (2019) “Carmen La Golondrina” (Santa Fe, NM 2018), “The Little Match Girl” (Santa Fe, NM 2017), “Dance with Spirit” (Santa Fe, NM 2017), “Illusions in Arts “Calligraphy & Choreography” (Santa Fe, NM 2017), 

“Romance de la Luna “ (Santa Fe, NM, 2016), “Una Nota de Lorca” (Santa Fe, NM, 2016), “Gypsy Book” (Santa Fe, NM, 2015), “Flamenco Masters at Cleo Parker. 

Robinson Theatre” (Denver, CO 2015), “Houston Spanish & Flamenco Festival 2015” (Houston, TX 2015), “Flamenco X3”(Santa Fe, NM 2015), “Gypsy Passion”(Santa Fe, NM 2014), “Flamenco Fiesta!” (Santa Fe, NM 2014 & 2013), “Forever in My Heart” (Santa Fe, NM 2013), “My Gypsy Soul” (Santa Fe, NM 2012), “Chuscales at Old Main, Boulder” (Boulder, CO 2011), “Chuscales y Mina Fajardo con Las Tres Mujeres” (Las Vegas. NM, 2010), “Chuscales Live at MIT” (Boston, MA 2009), Telluride Jazz Festival (Telluride, CO 2008), “Chuscales at Tubac” (Tubac, AZ 2007), “Soul del Arte Tradiciones e Innovaciones” (San Francisco, CA 2005), “Ainadamar, Landscapes and Impression” Santa Fe Opera (Santa Fe, NM 2005), “A Night of Flamenco Magic” Lakewood Cultural Center (Denver, CO 2005), “Santa Fe Jazz and International Music Festival” (Santa Fe, NM 2004 & 2001), The John E. Marlow Guitar 

Series “Flamenco Night” (Chevy Chase, MD 2004), SJC Multicultural Arts Series “Flamenco” (San Juan Capistrano, CA 2003). 

She appeared in the films Flamenco Passion & Soul (1999), El Payo (2010), Españoles en el Mundo—Nuevo Mexico (2013), CNN Heroes Roger Montoya (2019), Univision—Salvador Ruiz (2022), and AARP-Roger Montoya (2023). 

She teaches flamenco dance classes at Teatro Paraguas Studio and Moving Arts Española. She performs with Chuscales and her group at Local Tablaos & Theaters in Santa Fe, NM.