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JuanS in Arm of the Sea

Arm of the Sea is a nickname for the Hudson River, and also the name of a local puppet theater that hosts an annual festival on the shore of the Esopus Creek in Saugerties. I went last night with my family and a couple of friends, and we picnicked on hummus and watermelon before performance time, and the kids did cartwheels down the grassy hill where the audience sits. The large papier-maché masks and figures are spellbinding, similar in spirit and design to the Bread and Puppet Theater. Arm-of-the-Sea Theater performed two new shows under the stars, with the creek as their backdrop: La Cosecha / The Harvest, and A Tale of Two Tribes.

La Cosecha, the story of a farmer forced to come to the U.S. from Mexico in search of work, "was created with the help of young people from families of migrant farm workers." Songs by Mercedes Sosa, sung by Juan Basilio Sanchez, formed much of the musical accompaniment. As much as I thought the politics were on the money, and a lot of the puppets worked effectively—a border-patrol helicopter in the shape of a skeleton head, an eagle representing the U.S., a coyote mask for a border-crossing racketeer, this show didn't move me as much as Arm-of-the-Sea's pieces that deal with the Hudson River (City that Drinks the Sky and At the Turning of the Tide). But that's ok, because at their worst, they're excellent.

Music from Latin America

`Nicaraguan guitarist.`

`Thatia Shelow Hudson Valley Newspapers Thursday, Julio 6, 2006`

Video JuanS y Roberto Verde

To look Video
Intal Flash Player Here

Juan Sánchez is a very busy guy, but he tries not let that sep him from his passión music. The Nicaraguan native moved to Ghent, New York, five years ago. He has played guitar and sung solo, and with other musicians, both locally and regionally.

Sanchez does regular gigs at restaurants in Albany and Saratoga, and also has played at the Blue Plate and Peint O'Gwrw in Chatham, Mexican Radio in Hudson, Latino Festival in Lee Ma; CBSTV Lee Ma; Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union Manhattan, Annual International Community Dinner Hudson, River MASS Ma; Hawthorne Valley School Harlenville, Sait Columba Multicultural Fiesta Schenectady, Annual Party the South American Spanish Association Albany, The Colonial Theatre Pittsfield Ma; Restaurant Managua Norwalk Connecticut, Hudson River Health Care Monticello and beyond.

Sanchez was a professional musician in his native country, playing percussion in an electronic band. He's been playing 18 years. In 1986, Sanchez picked up guitar, and since learning to play prefers in and song writing to percussion. He tends to write romantic music, he said.

In Nicaragua, Sanchez was a freelance journalist. They days he supports himself with several jobs, traveling as far as Amenia. He works with the Hispanic Community in Stuyvesant, and also provides music and Spanish/English voices for puppets in the Arm of the Sea puppet theatre in Saugerties. And is member of a trio, next to two people of Pittsfield in Massachusetts

Music voice JuanS

Trio Candela

Trio Candela performs traditional, folkloric Latin music from the Caribbean (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico), Mexico, Central & South America and original creations. The performance includes live music with Guitar, Conga, Vocals, Maraca, Guiro, Shekere, Cajon and traditional songs in Spanish/Creole. The trio features guitarist and vocalist Juan Basilio-Sanchez from Nicaragua, Congera, percussionist and vocalist Aimee Gelinas and lead guitarist and percussionist Daniel Cohen-both from Windsor, Ma. Candela has performed at the opening reception for the Mexican Ballet at the Colonial Theatre, the Becket Arts Center annual Summer Solstice fund raiser and the Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield. They were formerly known as “Trio Hispanico” They are available for your venue-contact aimee@gaiaroots.com to book an event.