TOMATITO - FLAMENCO MASTER - NOSPR

One of the greatest flamenco guitarists. He uniquely mixes the traditional genre with jazz styling. Composer and author of stage performances. Known primarily for his extraordinary duet with Camarón de la Isla.

Tomatito will come to Katowice's NOSPR with a 6-member ensemble, which will also include a flamenco dancer. This is a show that should not to be missed.

He was born in the south of Spain, in historic Andalusia – a land of mixed cultures, Spanish gypsies and flamenco. He was a student of the legendary guitarist Paco de Lucía and accompanist of the legendary Camarón de la Isla, the most famous flamenco singer. After the latter's tragic death, he began a solo concert career. He eventually became a living legend of flamenco music himself.

His real name is José Fernández Torres. He was born in Almería in 1958. His family had been connected to the area for many generations. The artist grew up in a very musical environment, where flamenco was especially nurtured. From an early age he was taught by his father and grandfather, who quickly discovered in the boy a great talent. At just ten years old – he performed for the first time with a flamenco club. The concert received wide publicity in the local press.

When he was fifteen, completely unexpectedly, Cameron de la Isla offered him the opportunity to play together at a festival in Málaga. It was also the beginning of a remarkable friendship between the two musicians, which was interrupted by the unexpected death of Cameron de la Isla in 1992.

At the age of twenty-one, he returned to his native Almeria and has lived there ever since. While touring with Camarón, he traveled all over Spain, working with some of the greatest flamenco artists – Pansequit, Enrique Morent and Juanito Villar. He recorded his first solo album in 1987, Rosas del Amor, followed by Barrio Negro in 1991. His next release was Guitarra gitana. An important year in his career was 1997, when there was a real explosion in his popularity. He received an official job offer from the autonomous Andalusian government. He then composed his first score for the Centro Andaluz de Teatro's. The music was described as literally taking the breath away.

The artist formed a partnership with pianist Michel Camilo, with whom he performed on Spain's biggest stages. He appeared in several flamenco-themed films, i.e. Sevillanas (1992), Flamenco (Carlos Saura)(1995), Vengo (2000), in which he performed his songs. Together with Roque Baños, he composed the music for the picture Salomé (2002).

Tomatito performs successfully all over the world, and his indefatigable energy during concerts has become a tradition. The concert in Katowice's NOSPR will be an opportunity to experience this energy, it will be a multidimensional journey across the Iberian continent, in the land of flamenco sounds. We recommend to all of you and invite you!