Miguel Espinoza Fusion

Miguel Espinoza Fusion plays the First Unitarian Society of Denver in Capitol Hill on Saturday, October 17, starting at 7 PM. The lineup for the night is Miguel Espinoza on guitar, Dianne Betkowski on cello, and Gabriel Costache on percussion.

Espinoza describes the group as a collective of world-class musicians whose sound draws on flamenco, classical, and jazz, woven with North African rhythms, Celtic whimsy, and Brazilian expressions. It's a broad reach, and the trio on stage—guitar, cello, and percussion—is how they bring those different threads together in one room. The cello adds a melodic, bowed line that sits between the percussive attack of the guitar and the rhythmic foundation of the percussion, so you get the flamenco and jazz roots alongside the more atmospheric, classical side.

Their fourth album, Gabriella, came out in 2023 and brought in some heavy hitters: two-time Grammy winner Howard Levy and two-time Grammy winner David Balakrishnan of the Turtle Island Quartet. If you're familiar with the Turtle Island Quartet, you know the kind of crossover they do—taking classical forms and pushing them into jazz and world music—and that same spirit runs through Gabriella.

There's also a charitable side to the evening: a portion of the proceeds goes to the ACLU of Colorado, which protects civil rights and civil liberties through litigation, education, and advocacy. The concert is at 7 PM on Saturday, October 17, at the First Unitarian Society of Denver in Capitol Hill.