Tomatito

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Tomatito

Tomatito in Alhndiga de Granaditas (October 19, 2016)

Background information

Birth name Jos Fernndez Torres

Also known Tomatito

as

Born August 20, 1958 (age 58)

Origin Barrio de Pescadera, Almera, Andalusia, Spain

Genres Flamenco, jazz

Occupation(s) Guitarist, composer

Instruments Guitar
 Associated Camarn de la Isla, Paco de Luca, Michel

acts Camilo, Diego el Cigala, Luis

Salinas, Duquende, Chano Domnguez

Website Tomatito.com

Jos Fernndez Torres, known as Tomatito (born Almera, 1958), is a Spanish flamenco guitarist.
Having started his career accompanying famed flamenco singer Camarn de la Isla (with Paco de
Luca), he has made a number of collaborative albums and six solo albums, two of which have
won Latin Grammy Awards.

Contents
[hide]

1Biography
o 1.1Beginnings, de la Isla
o 1.2Later career
2Style and instruments
3Discography
o 3.1Solo albums
3.1.1Singles
o 3.2With de la Isla and Paco de Luca
o 3.3With de la Isla
4References
5External links

Biography[edit]
Beginnings, de la Isla[edit]
Torres grew up in a musical family, which included two guitar playing uncles: Nio Miguel, a
flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist.
Tomatito, who had been playing clubs in Andalusia, became a flamenco sensation when he was
discovered by guitarist Paco de Luca. He accompanied legendary flamenco singer Camarn de la
Isla for two decades. With de Lucia and de la Isla he recorded four albums, and had a 1979 hit
called "La Leyenda del Tiempo". Their album Paris 87 won a Latin Grammy for best flamenco
album in 2000. Their partnership continued until Camarn's death in 1992.[1]
Later career[edit]
Tomatito's music blends traditional flamenco and jazz. On some albums, such as Barrio Negro, he
experimented with Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Music. He has also worked with flamenco
singers Duquende and Potito and pianist Chano Domnguez, among others. A collaboration with
pianist Michel Camilo produced the albums Spain (2000), which won a Latin Grammy,[1] and Spain
Again (2006).
Tomatito has produced six solo albums. His 2005 album Aguadulce won a Latin Grammy for best
flamenco album, and in 2010 he won his second solo Latin Grammy for Sonanta Suite.[2]
His music for the film Vengo, directed by Tony Gatlif, won the Csar Award for Best Music Written
for a Film in 2001.

Style and instruments[edit]

Tomatito incorporates elements of jazz in his style of flamenco; both, he says, "emerged as a
response to discrimination, a cry of suffering, or the joy of liberation". Half of what he plays is
improvised, he said. He frequently employs the Phrygian mode, and his favorite tuning is D, A, D, G,
B, D.[1]
He plays guitars made by Manuel Reyes, and uses (and endorses) strings by Savarez.[1]

Discography[edit]
Solo albums[edit]

1987: Rosas del Amor

1991: Barrio Negro
1997: Guitarra Gitana
2000: Spain (with Michel Camilo)
2001: Paseo de los Castaos
2004: Aguadulce
2006: Spain Again (with Michel Camilo)
2010: Sonanta Suite (with Josep Pons)
2013: Soy Flamenco
Singles[edit]

2012: "Mi Santa" Ft Romeo

With de la Isla and Paco de Luca[edit]

"Como El Agua"
"Calle Real (album)"
"Vivire"
With de la Isla[edit]

1979: "La Leyenda del Tiempo"

"Soy Gitano"
"Potro de Rabia y Miel"
1999: Paris 1987

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Cleveland, Barry (January 2014). "Gypsy Genome: Tomatito Reaffirms His
Flamenco Essence on Soy Flamenco". Guitar Player.
2. Jump up^ http://www.flamenco-world.com/noticias/tomatito15112010.htm

External links[edit]
 Tomatito website
Tomatito - Biography, discography, video collection and bibliography.
www.deflamenco.com