ENTERTAINMENT

G EJA'S C AFE:   HOME OF PROFESSIONAL FLAMENCO AND CLASSICAL GUITARISTS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

"Geja's just wouldn't be Geja's without our fabulous guitarists...they are just one of the features that sets our restaurant apart from all others in the city"

Where else can you go to sit behind a curtained booth lit by candlelight, and dunk pieces of meat and bread in sizzling oil and dripping cheese while watching a talented musician strum his guitar?  It's a one-of-a-kind experience.

So, who are the people who strum the strings of those guitars?  What does it take to be a Geja's musician?

Ted Richine has delighted Geja's patrons for more than 30 years.  A native Chicagoan, Richine has taught and played guitar professionally for nearly three decades.  His local credits include appearances on the Channel 5 Weekend Edition and Channel 26's Esteban Velasquez Show and he has studied under Chicago greats Jack Cecchini and William Texter.  Presently, he gives private lessons at DePaul Music Mart in Chicago, in addition to playing at Geja's and other local venues.

Mehran Jalili  peforms with the most authentic flamenco stylings of all our guitarists, perhaps because he also plays locally as the guitar accompaniment for a flamenco dancer.  Flamenco is a relatively recent pursuit for Mehron, whose earliest professional musical experiences were with a rock band.  His love of Spanish guitar takes him to Spain annually for the flamenco festival in Cordoba. He continues his studies under local guitar masters between performances at various Chicago-area venues. Mehron performs live Tuesdays and Saturday evenings.

Barry Goldberg  is well known for his soft romantic stylings that has set the mood of romance at Geja's Cafe since the mid-seventies. Barry who has studied with renowned classical guitarist Pepe Ramero also  performs in a guitar duo with his wife Linda at various venues throughout the Chicagoland area. In addition to teaching  Barry performs live every Friday and Sunday evening at Geja's Cafe.

Most of Geja's guitarists are available for private engagements; please contact our office to receive further information.  773-281-9101

CD available for purchase at Geja's Cafe.

Jesse Cook - Guitar
Luis Villegas - Guitar
Steve (Stefano) Edwards - Guitar
Michael (Miguel) Cascio - Percussion
Robert (Roberto) Skiba - Guitar
Tony (Antonio) Mhoon - Bass

STEVE EDWARDS performs live at Geja's every Wednesday evening starting at 7pm.

ROBERT SKIBA performs live at Geja's every Thursday evening starting at 7pm.

Mariposa has been nominated for Best Contemporary World Music CD and Best Production of an Instrumental CD in the Fiftieth Grammy Awards.

With their blazing strings and throbbing percussion, the songs "Milagros" and "Azul y Verde" bring me to a heroic Spain. A Spain filled with the bravery of larger than life toreadors, flashing red cloth in front of the path of danger. Or equally brave Conquistadors, voyaging on rough seas in huge wooden ships to uncharted places. "Esperanza," "Mariposa," and "Senorita" use smoldering guitars and a mix of understated and driving rhythm bring me to my favorite Spain. This is a Spain of elegant romance and powerful emotion. The sound of crickets and the scent of roses fills the air during a midnight rendezvous in the garden of a towering castle in Seville. A beautiful senorita, with long ebony hair, offers me her smile, gleaming against the night. The red wine we share makes my head heavy and my feet light as we dance until dawn. Of course, this is a personal journey, and your landing points may vary. Share this music with your spouse, your significant other, your lover, or the one you want to be your lover. Mariposa offers a great deal of fun and fantasy in musical form. I hope the Mariposa and Guitarra Azul make a second flight soon.

-Randy Freedman