Berklee Students, Alumni Perform on Flamenco Album Nominated for a Latin Grammy

José Mercé's 2016 album, Doy La Cara, is nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Flamenco Album. It was produced by Mediterranean Music Institute Artistic Director Javier Limón and features nine current or former Berklee students. 

By
Kimberly Ashton
September 22, 2016

José Mercé

For the second time since 2013, José Mercé, a Berklee Mediterranean Music Institute (MMI) Mediterranean Maestro, received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Flamenco Album. His 2016 release and 18th album, Doy La Cara (I Come Forward) (Warner Music Spain), was produced by MMI Artistic Director Javier Limón and features nine current or former Berklee students. Limón also produced Mercé's 2013 nominated album, Mi Única LLave (My Only Key), which featured Berklee's Balkan Pletenitsa Choir, headed by Associate Professor Christiane Karam.

In addition to producing Mercé's latest album, Limón produced the album that won the 2015 Latin Grammy Award for Best Flamenco Album, Entre 20 Aguas: A La Música De Paco De Lucía, a tribute to the late flamenco legend Paco de Lucía.

See all Berklee faculty and alumni who won 2015 Latin Grammys. 

Doy La Cara was recorded in Spain and in Boston, where Mercé worked with Berklee students and alumni. "I personally enjoyed very much all the stages of creating this album, but I was especially impressed in Boston, at Berklee College of Music, surrounded by all the extraordinary musicians, such as those from the Mediterranean Music Institute," Mercé said. These students and alumni include:  

While students and alumni perform on the album, its main collaborators include Joaquin Sabina, Pablo Alborán, Alejandro Sanz '13H, Alvaro Urquijo, Ainoa Arteta, Chabuco, Andrés Calamaro, Jorge Drexler, and Vanesa Martin. 

Doy La Cara, released in May 2016, is one of five albums nominated for Best Flamenco Album. The Latin Grammy Awards will be presented November 17. 

Watch students perform with Alejandro Sanz at the 2013 Latin Grammy Awards.