This episode of the Tasty Brew Music Podcast is a conversation between my better half and co-founder with me of the Heartland Song Network, Danny Powell and multi-instrumentalist Michael McClintock. Danny conducted this interview at our home in connection with Michael serving as the October 2020 Artist of the Month for the Heartland Song Network, a nonprofit whose mission is to elevate the art of the song through education, collaboration and mentorship.
Michael, from the bustling metropolis of Neosho, Missouri, graduated in 2006 from the University of Missouri Kansas City Music Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in classical guitar performance. His first professional musical project was playing flamenco music. He quickly branched out into multiple genres of music and now performs with Ensemble Iberica, highlighting the music of Spain and Portugal and the colonial Americas, Cubanisms (the music of Cuba), Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices, a traditional Country Band and now the FM Duo, a new project with fellow Jazz enthusiast and guitarist Jeff Freling. It was with Ensemble Iberica that Michael started to introduce the Cuban Tres, a guitar unique to the island, in different styles of music such as Jazz, Fado, Tango, Bossa Nova, Ginga, Flamenco. Michael along with his Cuban born wife, Dalida, have formed the project “Cubanisms”, to spread the culture of Cuba in the United States by performing Cuban-Latin songs arranged by Michael. They also provide travel guided services to Cuba.
Enjoy this conversation with a man with small town Missouri roots now playing music at a world class level around the globe.
Cubanisms:
Michael McClintock – Cuban Tres
Fedra Cooper Berrera – Vocals
Bruno Bessa – Vocals
James Isaac – Saxophone
Forest Stewart – Bass
Miko Spears – Percussion
Robert Beasley – Percussion
John Currey - Percussion
