by Daniel V. Garcia
Daily Lobo
The nuevo flamenco sounds of Hector Pimentel can be heard wafting through the desert air like the smoke from a sage smudge stick. Like green chile and adobe homes, the Pimentel name is a cultural mainstay of New Mexico.
About five months ago, Mr. Guitar, as he is popularly known, was severely injured on the UNM campus when a heavy gate fell on him.
"I had just finished playing for the UNM president," he said. "After the gig, which was about 7:30, a security guard asked me to close a gate for him. Boy, that gate fell on top of me. I was sliding it, and it completely came out of its track and squashed me as I was closing it."
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He said he was knocked unconscious and when he came to, he was in a pool of blood and screaming for his life.
"It took at least 10 people to wedge it up and pull me out of there," he said. "They could barely pull it up a little bit to get me out. Both of my pelvic bones were broken," he said.
But that was just the beginning of the horror.
"My face caved in. Air went into my brain," he said. "I had plastic surgery done on my face. I have a titanium eye socket, nose bridge and cheekbone. I continue to suffer from traumatic brain injury and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)."
He said he began performing again in September as part of his therapy. He plays at Ortega's restaurant on Thursday nights and on Fridays and Saturdays at the Hilton Hotel. He will also appear in the upcoming movie "Bordertown" as a classical guitarist.
Danette Lovato-Pimentel, Pimentel's wife, manager and promoter, has helped him with his recovery.
He said his mentors include Hector Garcia and Bob Brown.
He has been playing music since he was 6 years old, and he is recognized as a world-class guitarist.
His influences are diverse.
"I do a variety of music from Spain, Portugal and Brazil," he said. "Not just Chopin, Mozart and Bach. I draw from classical, popular, nuevo flamenco, old western - Johnny Cash - and show tunes."
Pimentel plays as part of an ensemble group called Hector Pimentel and Leyenda.
"That group consists of five people," he said. "Two guitars, a conga/bongo/timbales player on the latin percussion side, a bass player and a flamenquera who plays the palmas and the castanets and who dances as well. That's on the flamenco numbers."
He said in spite of the difficulties brought on by the accident, his resolve is strong.
"I still have a lot of problems, but I'm a survivor. I've always been very strong," he said. "If I want to play guitar, no one is gong to stop me except for God. God saved my life."
