MUSIC
FELICES DíAS
Our latest album is a Global Music Award winner! For CDs of Felices Días, click the "Buy Now" button below. We will promptly and joyfully mail them to you and your friends for $20! ​Need a special gift for a friend or family member who is a music lover? We also have limited edition signed copies of the CD that can be purchased for $25 (prices include shipping costs).
Individual songs can be dowloaded using the links below.
ENCUENTRO
For CDs of Encuentro click the "Buy Now" button below. We will promptly and joyfully mail them to you and your friends for $20! ​Need a special gift for a friend or family member who is a music lover? We also have limited edition signed copies of the CD that can be purchased for $25 (prices include shipping costs).
Individual songs can be dowloaded using the links below.
VIDEOS
Felices Días
Hey Yidaki
Dariya
Mar Negro
Felices Días: Creating a Hope-Driven Flamenco Album Amid a Global Catastrophe
The Maharajah Flamenco Trio is a unique nuevo flamenco group who fuse the art of flamenco with jazz, classical, and world music. Founded in Tallahassee, Florida, all three members of the Trio are graduates of Florida State University and have been performing together since 2011.
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The Trio is composed of GRAMMY award-winning guitarist and founder Silviu Ciulei, soulful bassist David Cobb, and percussionist and didgeridoo virtuoso Ramin Yazdanpanah. Together, through their dynamic and engaging performances, the Trio connects audiences to the music, cultures, and people that inspire them; creatively blending their worldly performance style to Ciulei’s compositions.
In 2013, they released their first studio album “Encuentro” a musical journey through different styles of flamenco, traditional and new. The Trio’s innovative flamenco version of Bach's Prelude from the 2nd Lute Suite reveals the depth of Silviu’s musicianship and ability to reinterpret timeless classics in new and exciting ways.
In 2022, Maharajah Flamenco Trio’s second album “Felices Días (Happy Days)” won a Bronze Medal at the prestigious Global Music® Award for nuevo flamenco. The album was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer José Valentino who also plays multiple instruments on the record. Furthermore, in 2022 David’s solo album “Bright, Quiet Things'' won a Global Music® Award for folk album (Bronze Medal) and Silviu won a Latin GRAMMY for his collaboration on the album “A La Fiesta De La Musica Vamos Todos” by Sophia Canta.
Over the years, the Trio has performed at various theatres, universities, museums, and festivals across North America. They also repeatedly participate as guest speakers and provide musical workshops to groups of all ages, in order to support the spread of the Flamenco musical language across the country.
BIO
Silviu Ciulei, DM
Photo By: Carolyn Elizabeth
Having begun his musical training at an early age, Romanian born guitarist Silviu Ciulei was soon winning prizes in national and international competitions, first in Europe and more recently in the United States. His interest in flamenco was first awakened while on a family holiday in Spain. It was not long before he moved to Cadiz, Andalusia, the heartland of flamenco. There he began several years of intense study of flamenco guitar, which he brought with him to “Tequila", a group that gained national attention in his native Romania. Silviu graduated with his Ph.D. in classical guitar performance under the tutelage of the late Bruce Holzman, Director of the Guitar Program at Florida State University's College of Music, one of the leading figures of guitar teaching in the US. Silviu is currently the Director of Guitar Studies at the University of Florida. In 2022, Silviu won a Latin GRAMMY for his collaboration on the album “A La Fiesta De La Musica Vamos Todos” by Sophia Canta. The album was the 2022 Winner for the Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Children’s Album, on which Silviu played guitar and contributed background vocals for the 15-track record. Learn more about Silviu's projects on his personal website http://www.silviuciulei.com/.
David Cobb, MM
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Photo By: Carolyn Elizabeth
Bassist David Cobb began his musical journey in the middle school brass section but was soon lured by the sound of strings and began teaching himself guitar and electric bass, expanding his classical background into the American styles centered around these instruments: blues, rock, jazz, and soul. A xenophile from an early age, David has always sought out sounds from around the world and his compositions and playing embody that journey. The feel of soul, a wealth of Latin American/Caribbean rhythms and melodic sensibilities from Africa, Western Asia, and Eastern Europe are reflected in his style. David earned his Master's degree in musicology from Florida State University, with an emphasis in ethnomusicology. His master's thesis dealt with experiences of musical ecstasy, particularly the moments of duende in flamenco performance. In 2022, David's solo album “Bright, Quite Things” won a Global Music® Award for folk album (Bronze Medal). Check out David's personal website at https://www.treespeechmusic.com/.
Ramin Yazdanpanah, PhD
Photo By: Carolyn Elizabeth
Rounding out the rhythm section, percussionist Ramin Yazdanpanah’s sounds echo the Outback, the Silk Road, the Caribbean, and his native Florida home. Ramin expresses the soulful and passionate rhythms of his Cuban-Iranian heritage on cajón and a variety of percussion instruments from around the globe. His skill on the Australian aboriginal didgeridoo redefines the possibilities of Flamenco, adding an ancient sound that mesmerizes and inspires audiences. Ramin has performed and recorded with numerous artists across diverse musical genres in the United States, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Ramin earned his Ph.D. in International Development and Education from Florida State University where he conducted research on developing intercultural competence through facilitated cultural exchange. Ramin is also the Director of Full Circle Language Learning and Teaching. Visit fullcirclelanguage.com for more information.
EDUCATION
In addition to bringing inspiring musical performances, the Maharajah Flamenco Trio is passionate about educating our audiences through the experience of flamenco and discussing the intersections of culture, music, well-being, and creativity. Silviu, Ramin, and
David all teach courses in higher education and at the community level.
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Musical education has the powerful potential to improve scholastic achievement, pride in our diverse identities, promote well-being, and inspire individuals to create. MFT provides impactful and fun educational experiences for all age groups. Click here to watch the Maharajah Flamenco Trio performing for the wonderful students at Weaver Academy in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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MFT also specializes in providing interactive and engaging master classes on classical and flamenco guitar, electric bass, world percussion, and didgeridoo.
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To enquire about our Education outreach, please e-mail us at maharajahtrio@gmail.com
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"I can’t explain how much the Maharajah Flamenco Trio has meant to me and my community of college students. Their work has incredible value beyond the entertainment factor—though their pure joy and audience engagement aren’t something to be underestimated! My favorite thing about the trio is that they make a sincere effort to collaborate across boundaries and educate their audiences about the cultural background of their music, which is a disconnect that is sometimes present in standard “global music” performances. Give them a listen and make an effort to see them live. You won’t be disappointed!"
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Dr. Felicia K. Youngblood
Assistant Professor, Musicology/Ethnomusicology
Department of Music, Western Washington University
