Meet Teresa and Orlando, very much in love and creating beautiful music. Teresa is a flutist; Orlando, a singer, songwriter and guitarist.
"Teresa radiates happiness. Her eyes are a startling iridescent blue. Last summer she played with the Wayne Shorter orchestra at the Monterrey Jazz Festival. Born in the province of Sonora just south of California, Orlando is reserved, but he will surprise me. I keep staring at his deep widow’s peak. His medium-cut black hair is sleeked back in a slight pompadour."
I met the the musicians in California on a recent visit to dear friends who introduced us. They have so much to say about music and about being Hispanic in this country and how art can rescue culture.
Here's Orlando:
"My students are often Hispanic, and sometimes in the process of Americanization kids say that being Hispanic is not cool. It shames them. But it’s extremely important to be proud of our cultures. Se forma una imagen equivocada de nuestra gente. We need constructive citizens with a sense of rootedness. El arte rescata la cultura"
Teresa on the early roots of music:
"Music always goes back to childhood. My father era un bailador—he loved to dance—and he sang to us, also my nana Mamachicha. I come from a tight-knit Salvadoran family. In fourth grade at Reed Elementary in San Jose, California, I was given a plastic recorder and played songs by heart. In sixth grade I could choose an instrument--and I chose the flute. It was love at first sight!"