We first heard classical guitarist Esteban perform in Scottsdale, Arizona in the mid-1990s, where his daughter, violinist Teresa Paul, who at the time, was only 15 years old often joined him. Hearing them perform at the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, brought back memories of many happy evenings spent in the desert serenaded by the talented duo and Esteban's band.
Comfortably seated at a table for two, on a lovely summer evening in July 2012, we had the pleasure of listening to Esteban, his daughter Teresa Paul, and his band perform at the intimate venue, the Wolf Den located in the Casino of the Earth at Mohegan Sun.
Edward, Debra, and Esteban at Mohegan Sun
Esteban, wearing his signature black Flamenco hat and dark sunglasses, opened with the song, Duende off his release by the same name, and then deftly transitioned into his song, Soleares, off his Flamenco y Rosas CD. However it was not an evening of purely classical guitar music, it was an evening of Esteban, mixing in a bit of this and a bit of that. Along with his band comprised of` his daughter on violin, drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, and percussionist, Esteban took the audience on a diverse musical ride that included the Beatles song, Eleanor Rigby, which he put his own spin on.
Esteban on stage at Mohegan Sun
Passionate about playing the guitar, Esteban traveled to Spain where he spent 4 years studying with the classical guitar virtuoso, Andrés Segovia (1893-1987), who endorsed him in 1978 writing, "... Stephen Paul (Esteban) who loves the guitar and the guitar loves him - an artist." Learning from the master, Esteban is an artist whose fingers can fly over the strings in a blur when playing a complicated Flamenco song, or can slow the pace as he did with, Celtic Untitled, a new song he wrote a few nights earlier. He explained to the audience that he woke with the song in his head, and wrote it down. He wanted to play it for this performance and rehearsed it with his band twenty minutes before the show. Celtic Untitled with a little Greensleeves woven in will be on his upcoming release.
Teresa Paul and Esteban
Next on the set list was the 12th century song, Wassail, where the guitar has three "voices" and he then segued into Elvis' Love Me Tender followed by another Elvis song, Can't Help Falling in Love. A few of the other songs performed included Runaway (Intro) and Besame Mucho off Esteban's Flamenco y Rosas CD, A Time for Us and Romanza off his Songs from the Heart CD, as well as the songs Fuego and As Tears Go Bye.
One of Esteban's many talents is his ability to connect with his audiences through his music and his stories, so that when you leave one of his concerts, you feel like you have made a friend. He is a generous soul as well as a talented musician, which is why we have always enjoyed watching him perform throughout the years.
He is a firm believer that you should "bring music into your family" as it will enrich their lives. He started his daughter Teresa playing the violin at age 4, and by the time she was 15, she was playing alongside her father at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona; certainly not a bad gig for her debut performance.
Teresa Paul performing at Mohegan Sun
Over the years, Teresa's talent as a violinist and performer has matured and has developed into a style of her own. Playing beside her father, she not only kept up with his pace, she cut through the violin numbers as easily as a hot knife through butter, an angelic smile on her face, her waist length black hair swaying in time with the music, and a glimpse of her bare feet dancing about under her long black gown.
Esteban and the band on stage at Mohegan Sun
After the show, the audience had the opportunity to meet and chat with Esteban and Teresa, who graciously signed Esteban's many CDs available for purchase, as well as Teresa's debut CD entitled, Rosin Revolver Vol. 1 - A Teresa Joy Paul Project. (Read about Rosin Revolver Vol. 1 - A Teresa Joy Paul Project in the Music Scene).
Visit Luxury Experience's Facebook page to watch a video of Esteban and Teresa Paul performing at Mohegan Sun: www.Facebook.com/LuxuryExperience.
Check the Mohegan Sun entertainment calendar for other upcoming performances in the Wolf Den.
Wolf Den
Mohegan Sun
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard
Uncasville, CT 06382
United States
Telephone: 1-888-226-7711
Website: www.MoheganSun.com
Follow Esteban on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/EstebanGuitars, Mohegan Sun on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MoheganSun and follow Luxury Experience on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LuxuryExperience.
Read other materials on Mohegan Sun in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants - Bar Americain Mohegan Sun, Ballo Italian Restaurant and Social Club, Chefs' Recipes, Spas, and Performances sections.
© August 2012. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.