Juntas Chicas / New York's Experimental Veracruz Sounds (1)

Juntas Chicas / New York's Experimental Veracruz Sounds

Presented by Terraza 7

Date: Saturday, March 30th, 2024

Time: 10:30 pm

Admission: $20 cover charge at the mezzanine.

Featuring:

• Julia del Palacio / Zapateo
• Claudia Valentina / Vocals; jarana
• Paula Sànchez-Kucukozer / Zapateo

About Juntas Chicas:

Founded in 2019 by multi-genre performers Julia del Palacio and Claudia Valentina, Juntas Chicas is an experimental project that aims to amplify female voices in traditional Mexican music in New York City. In 2023, the multi-talented Paula Sánchez-Kucukozer joined the band, and now Juntas Chicas is led by all three women, featuring exciting guest musicians. Together, Juntas Chicas blends son jarocho—the traditional music, dance, and song from Veracruz, Mexico—with jazz, cumbia, and flamenco, merging the jarana jarocha, percussive zapateado dance, and vocals with modern sounds inspired by their experiences living and performing music in New York City. Through covers of indie rock tunes, traditional son jarocho pieces, or original songs that are evocative, romantic, and a tad melancholic, Juntas Chicas takes audiences on a musical journey through time and space.

About Julia del Palacio: Born and raised in Mexico, Julia del Palacio learned the traditional son jarocho zapateado from renowned dancers in Veracruz and Mexico City. Julia has been performing professionally in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the past fifteen years with various artists and projects, including Radio Jarocho, Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Sonia de los Santos. She regularly teaches classes in zapateado and the history and structure of son jarocho at various institutions.

About Claudia Valentina: An independent artist based in New York City, Claudia Valentina Montes has recorded and toured the US and Mexico as lead singer with bands like Jarana Beat and Flor de Toloache. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Arturo O'Farril, Dan Zanes, and Sonia de los Santos, and performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Claudia continues to perform and is currently working on her first solo album.

About Paula Sànchez-Kucukozer: Paula Sánchez-Kucukozer is a Mexican-born educator and teaching artist based in New York City. She holds an MA in Foreign Language Education from NYU and has taught Spanish for 19 years in various educational settings. Paula is also actively involved in local community events and organizations, constantly researching and learning more about cultural traditions, particularly those from Mexico.