FLAMENCO

SUENO GITANO

JOSE DE LA NEGRETA

JOSÉ DE LA NEGRETA
Domingo and Luís say José is ‘a phenomenon’: it is a miracle that he is such a fine singer. Indeed, although many guitarists and dancers have developed their skills outside Andalusia, and even outside Spain, it is quite exceptional for a singer to do so. Normally, success in the art of cante requires a closeness to one's Andalusian roots; the art is passed on from generation to generation and is learned by immersion in the flamenco milieu. It is never learned by formal training: it has to be in the blood!
But although his parents are from Andalusia (Almería), José was born in Marseille, many miles from the land of his forebears. Nevertheless, he grew up with flamenco: both his father and his uncle sang. But he was more interested in the guitar, which he began to study seriously. So it was as a guitarist that he really came into contact with singers (cousins or friends of the family); but he did not feel an urge to sing himself.
It was only later, when he had gained more experience in flamenco, that the desire to sing finally began to stir. He had a fine voice and everyone would encourage him to sing whenever there was a celebration. But he was at a disadvantage living in France, where there are few opportunities to hear, let alone get to meet, good cantaores.
José has always been particularly attracted by the style of the province of Cádiz, whose melody (aire), rhythm (compás) and song (cante) represent the essence of flamenco for him. Gradually he immersed himself in the world of flamenco puro and began to develop his natural talent for singing. He began to sing regularly as a soloist or with dancers. He took part in competitions and won second prize at Nîmes in 1994. Then, one day in 1997, Antonio Moya, with whom he had studied the guitar, introduced him to Pedro Bacán. A decisive event in José's career. Through. Pedro, his sister Ines, and the rest of the family, José gained access to the most carefully kept secrets of cante, while spending much time listening to old recordings of cantaores such as Antonio Mairena, Juan Talega, Manuel Torre, Juanito Mojama, Niña de los Peines and Fernanda de Utrera. This CD – his first as a soloist – is a tribute to those great flamenco singers.

DOMINGO RUBICHI
Domingo was born in 1971 at Jerez de la Frontera, into the Gypsy family of the Rubichi, the Agujetas and Tío Juani. A family of blacksmiths highly accomplished in the art of flamenco. As far back as anyone can remember, everyone has always sung, danced or played the guitar. Rubichi, Domingo's father, is a famous cantaor. But Domingo was more interested in the guitar, which he learned to play by listening to musicians such as Rafael del Aguila, Manuel Parrilla, Niño Jero, and Manuel Morao and his son Moraíto.
Like the rest of his family, Domingo belongs to the great tradition of Jerez de la Frontera. Unlike most young guitarists, he has not attempted to follow in the steps of Paco de Lucía. Since he was very young, he has accompanied the finest singers and dancers of the Jerez region. Sober, limpid, and rhythmically very precise, his playing gives ideal support, effective, inspiring and revealing, in the purest Jerez style. ‘Jerez is different from anywhere else,’ he explains. ‘There is something here that comes from God, and which makes flamenco different.’

LUÍS DE LA TOTA
He and Domingo have been friends since childhood. Luís has been immersed in flamenco since birth. His parents were good amateur singers, who performed at christenings, weddings, at the forge, and at family celebrations, but they never turned professional. ‘Something is passed on,’ he says, ‘but not all Andalusian Gypsies are necessarily flamencos. You have to learn from your parents or someone, otherwise you will never be able to play correctly.’
He first played percussion on his sister's toy-box: that was his first cajón! He went on to specialise in rhythm, becoming one of the most popular flamenco percussionists (cajón and palmas). Exceptionally talented as an improviser and with great sensitivity to rhythm of every sort, Luís is also appreciated as a poet: he has written the words (letras) of many songs for the singers of Jerez.
José, Domingo and Luís first worked as a threesome with the dancer Ana la China; their activities with her included the show ‘From Benares to Jerez’, which brought together Spanish flamenco and Indian kathak.

Press Reviews

Détail about the Cd

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