#39- TOMATITO

José Fernández Torres "Tomatito" nació en Almería el 20 de Agosto de 1958. He was born among great Flamenco guitarists, including his father Tomate and uncle Nino MiguelTomatito became a Flamenco sensation at an early age; he was discovered by Flamenco maestro Paco de Lucia and then began working in part with legendary Flamenco singer Camaron de la Isla. In 1979, they produced a hit called "La leyenda del tiempo." Their partnership continued until Camaron's death in 1992. His latest collaboration was with pianist Michel Camilo, producing the albums "Spain" (2000) and "Spain Again" (2006). His music is a unique mix of traditional Flamenco and jazz. Tomatito has produced six solo albums and in 2005, won a Latin Grammy for Best Flamenco Record, for his album "Aguadulce".

José Fernández Torres "Tomatito" was born in Almería in 1958, in the Pescadería neighbourhood. His family is associated with Almería since many generations back and has an inherent musical tradition. His Grandfather Miguel Fernández Cortés “El Tomate” was a well-known figure at private parties at the turn of the century and among the young aficionados of Almería’s traditional musical evenings, at which he played duets with his brother Antonio.
His father was a guitar enthusiast at home and played the clarinet in the city’s Municipal Band. His brothers and thus TOMATITO’S uncles, were Antonio, who played the bandurria (A plucked string instrument, a hybrid of the guitar and cittern families, found in Spain and parts of Latin America. It had a cittern-shaped body and, in the 16th century, three strings; more recent examples may have up to five or six, tuned in 4ths.) as a youngster and later developed a career as a guitarist in France playing for artists such as Paco Isidro, and also Miguel "Niño Miguel”, who became a virtuoso classical guitarist in Huelva where he still lives.

José grew up in an environment closely linked to music and especially, to flamenco. He learnt his first chords from his father and grandfather and showed strong musical talent and almost innate ability from an early age.

Before long, at just 10 years old, his first break as an accompanist came about through José Sorroche of Almería’s Peña El Taranto flamenco club. The concert, at which he was presented as “Pepín Fernández”, had extensive coverage in the local press, as if destiny had bestowed a certain degree of notoriety for him right from the start of his public career. From then on, he maintained a close relationship with this Peña and was called on innumerable times to accompany many of the singers who appeared there.

In 1970 his father El Tomate took the family to live in Málaga, where he played in local orchestras. There he arranged for his son to work nightly at La Cañeta’s club in Marbella.

Later, he was to appear at the Taberna Gitana as a member of the resident cuadro flamenco. La Kika and Pepito Vargas danced there, among others, and Pedro Escalona played the guitar. Aside from accompanying the dance troupe Tomatito played solo, normally "Entre dos aguas" by Paco de Lucía. He also took lessons at that time with Pedro Blanco and Enrique Naranjo. These three years were a key period in his career since top artists whom he revered, such as Pansequito, Lebrijano, Paco de Lucía and even Camarón de la Isla, would hear him play for other well-known singers. He met Paco de Lucía at the marquee which the Taberna Gitana would mount at the Málaga Feria. Camarón, who was working at the time in the prestigious Torrebermejas club in Madrid, often spent time in Málaga.

One day when Tomatito was 15, Camarón de la Isla unexpectedly needed a guitarist to perform at a festival in Málaga. It was suggested that he call on the youngster at the Taberna Gitana who could play Paco de Lucía numbers well, to which Camarón agreed. This was the first encounter Tomatito would experience with José Monge Cruz, one which would lead to an 18-year professional relationship up to the singer’s tragic death in 1992.

From then on, Camarón booked him sporadically when his habitual accompanist, Paco Cepero, had other engagements. They performed together in places such as Salamanca, Valencia, Festival de Alhaurín de la Torre, etc.

He left the Taberna Gitana to play in Madrid with Pansequito for the next five months. This was the first and only Christmas Tomatito spent away from home. They spent Christmas Eve at Los Canasteros, where La Susi was singing.

With Camaron

At 21, Tomatito returned to the city of Almeria with his family and still lives there. During his time with Camarón, he alternated sell-out concerts in Spain and overseas with work at clubs and festivals playing for great artists such as Enrique Morente, La Susi, Vicente Soto, Pansequito, José Mercé, Chano Lobato, Terremoto de Jerez, Antonio Mairena, Juanito Villar, Rancapino etc.

Highlights of this period include performances with Camarón at Montreux Jazz and in New York, as well as solo concerts at events such as:

• The ‘El Giraldillo’ Guitar competition at the III Bienal de Arte Flamenco, Seville, in 1984, with the singer Juan Villar and the legendary dancer Farruco.
• The Cumbre Flamenca Festival at the Alcalá Palace Theatre, Madrid in 19855.
• The V Festival de Jazz de Madrid in 1986 with The Ray Barretto orchestra.
• The Festival de Verano de la Villa de Madrid in 1991.
• The Lope de Vega Theatre, Seville, with the singer Parrita.
  

At this last concert, during the performance, Tomatito was surprised by a sudden audience response. Camarón had gone onstage and had sat down beside him without being asked. When the singer was asked about this unexpected appearance he replied that “he didn’t always require a fee to sing”. This was but one demonstration of the union between the two artists which shows Camarón’s kindness.

Tomatito's affinity with the Peña El Taranto in Almería won him, in 1985, the Taranto de Oro prize and later, in 1988, the ‘Lucas López’ award.

At this time he was already one of the most prestigious accompanying guitarists in Spain. His musical philosophy emerged in total affinity with that of Camarón, a unique and very flamenco sound in which they featured the rhythmic breaks as part of the melody as well as exploring fully the cadences of Camarón’s Cante.

"La leyenda del Tiempo", released in 1979, was the first recording of a long discography accompanying Camarón. On "Como el agua" (1981), he had the chance to play with his idol, Paco de Lucía, for whom he would establish thenceforth, great respect and admiration. Calle Real (1983), Viviré (1984), Te lo dice Camarón (1986), Flamenco vivo (recorded live in 1987), Disco de Oro (compilation released 1988), Soy gitano (1989), Autorretrato (remixes and unedited material, 1991), were to follow. Potro de rabia y miel (1992) was Camarón’s last album on which Paco de Lucía played. Later releases include Camarón nuestro (1993), París 1987, recorded live in Paris (1999) and Camarón. Antología inédita (2000).

Alone With His Guitar

In 1992, The death of Camarón de la Isla has disastrous effects. Their symbiosis had been so great that the singer’s absence pervaded Tomatito's every performance. As well as this, an ambiguous attitude among other important singers made them wary of working with him, for fear that the great void would never be filled by their voices. Only a few top artists showed a willingness to be accompanied by Camarón’s loyal confidante, friend and perfect musical right-hand man. Chano Lobato, Enrique Morente and Carmen Linares were among those who were brave enough to face audiences who might have felt not only the “presence” of Camarón’s voice behind Tomatito's sublime playing, but a different vocal or harmonic format that could have disappointed them for the duration of such concerts. Flamenco performers know a thing or two about staging and marketing themselves.

Since then, Tomatito has appeared with many other performers such as Duquende and Potito, and even local talent from his own neighbourhood, thus beginning a new and rapidly-expanding phase as a soloist and receiving huge acclaim at all his concerts. Highlights of that time include the Festival Flamenco de Madrid, 4º Homenaje al Taranto 1993 at the Auditorio Nacional de Música, Madrid, the Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, the Palau de la Música, Valencia, and the Palacio de Congresos, Granada, Madrid’s Universidad Complutense, Cordoba International Guitar Festival, etc. His credibility increased as he was requested to share the bill with international stars such Frank Sinatra and Elton John.

Many and great are the successes he has reaped from endeavours abroad, including performances at the International Music Festival of Istanbul, thel VI Festival International de la Guitare de Lyon and tours of Japan, Switzerland, France, Holland and Germany.

He has taken breaks from performing with his own band to collaborate with Spanish artists of other genres such as the revered folk singer Carlos Cano and the pop phenomenon Mecano. His national tour with Enrique Morente caused a sensation among aficionados and the media.

In 1987 he recorded his first solo album "Rosas del amor", followed by "Barrio Negro" in 1991, which featured the voice of Camarón on the track entitled "La voz del Tiempo". Throughout 1997 he presented the album "Guitarra gitana" across the whole of Spain from Barcelona’s Plaza de Cataluña during the Festes de la Mercé to the Auditorio de Palma de Mallorca.

Citizen Of The World

Tomatito's acclaimed collaboration with the pianist Michel Camilo started that year with a tour of Spain’s major stages: The Barcelona Jazz Festival, the Palau de la Música, Valencia, the Gran Teatro, Córdoba and overseas at Sardinia Jazz .

The following year, he created the score for the German film Bin Ich Schoen? Directed by Doris Doërrie. He played such diverse events as Espárrago Rock 98, in Granada; Nuits de la Guitare de Patrimonio, Corsica, sharing the bill with Irakere and Chick Corea, Mont-de-Marsan Flamenco Festival, France, as well as in Finland at the Tampere Flamenco Festival . At the X Bienal de Arte Flamenco de Sevilla he presented Tomate & Friends, one of the event’s most talked-about concerts. He spent time in Argentina participating in the ‘El Guitarrazo’ tour with Luis Salinas and Lucho González.

He began 1999 at the II Miedzynarodowy Guitar Festival, in Poland and went on to tour Cuba, Germany, Argentina, France and Italy. He also appeared with Michel Camilo at the Blue Note Jazz club in Tokyo and the International Jazz Festival, Basle.

The following lines appeared in the Argentinian press:

"In 1998 Tomatito came to Argentina and shared stages with two of our great guitarists, Luis Salinas and Lucho González. "El Guitarrazo" brought us this musician, born on the Spanish tablaos, who alongside Camarón de la Isla and Paco de Lucía would become part of the Nuevo Flamenco legend which began in the '70’s. A noble, virtuoso and inspired guitarist, Tomatito returned to our country with his own show,"Noches Gitanas", and left the magic of his art in Buenos Aires’ atmosphere"
María Belén Luaces.

Another of his important collaborations was with the Turkish baglama maestro Arif Sag with whom he toured Europe in 2000. He also worked with the film director Tony Gatlif on his movie “Vengo”.

Finally, that same year, the album "Spain", a compilation of Tomatito's work with Michel Camilo was released. It won a Latin Grammy for best Latin-Jazz recording. Together they played Carnegie Hall during the New York JVC Jazz Festival and went on to do a stint at the prestigious Blue Note Jazz Clubs in New York, Tokyo and Osaka. Tomatito also collected another Grammy for best flamenco recording for the live album Paris 1987 on which he played for Camarón de la Isla. After closing the XI Bienal de Flamenco in Seville with his concert Bajandí, he travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Nimes and Santo Domingo to give concerts.

The Tony Gatlif film went on to obtain the César prize for best soundtrack and signified nomination for Tomatito for the Premio de la Música in 2001.

"Paseo de Los Castaños", was released on Universal-Polydor in 2001 and caused a sensation among followers of flamenco. In spite of having recently ventured into many other musical fields, this album is pure flamenco, with Tomatito's own personal sound. Its deep, mysterious qualities contrast with fresh harmonies and sparks of brightness. It covers the whole of flamenco’s 150-year spectrum of history and the voices of his own daughters appear, as well as a duet with George Benson.

After the national tour presenting the new repertoire, Tomatito played with Camilo at the major European Jazz Festivals including North Sea, Umbria Jazz and Montreux. He was selected to become the “face” for the new JVC publicity campaign in Spain. The Swiss festivals In Guitar and La Batie de Geneve featured Tomatito with his own Sextet in their line-up with enormous success.

Nuevos Medios, the flamenco record label, has just brought out Tomatito, a compilation including tracks from "Barrio Negro" and "Guitarra Gitana", to commemorate the label’s 20th anniversary.

He began 2002 with a sellout concert at the Palais de Beaux Arts, Brussels, going on to participate in the Basel International Jazz Festival. Other events this year include Flamenco à Biarritz, Nuits de la Mediterranée, Tangier and Fiesta des Suds, Marseille. Special projects include composition of the score for Aida Gómez production of Salomé directed by Carlos Saura and also for the Centro Andaluz de Teatro’s new work Romeo & Juliet.

Joining forces with his close friend Raimundo Amador he toured Spain with Raimundo & Tomate throughout the summer. He has spent considerable time venturing into the musical world of Astor Piazzolla with his friend and colleague Carles Trepat, a collaboration which was showcased at the XII Bienal de Flamenco and later at the Colegio Mayor San Juan Evangelista, Madrid.

Tomatito toured Japan and Switzerland as well as play at the the Town Hall Theatre, New York and the Lisner Auditorium, Washington D.C. in early 2003.

Of late, Tomatito's career is a succession of acheivements. He received rave critiques after his October 2003 concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, attended by over 2000 people.

After recording for Paco de Lucía on his best selling album “Cositas Buenas”, Tomatito began preparations, alongside Joan Albert Amargós, for his orchestral work Sonanta Suite. The premiere took place at Barcelona’s Auditori in June 2004 and was followed by presentations at Cordoba’s International Guitar Festival and Seville’s Biennial Flamenco Festival among other prestigious events.

Later that year, Tomatito was awarded the Max prize for Performing Arts for the music score he wrote for the Andalusian Theatre Company’s production of Romeo & Juliet. Subsequently the album "Aguadulce" was released on Verve. Tomatito's home-coming to flamenco has since been celebrated at Glatt & Verkehrt Festival, Austria, Smetana Hall, Prague, Palais de Rois de Majorque, Montpellier, National Concert Hall, Dublin. Carrefour de la Guitare, Martinique, and the Festival des Andalousies Atlantiques, Essaouira, Morrocco.

2005 began for Tomatito with a sell-out concert at Carnegie Hall, New York in the company of the legendary Cantaor Enrique Morente. The AGUADULCE tour continued with performances at Barcelona’s Guitar Festival, Nuits de la Guitare de Patrimonio and the Antwerp Rivierenhof. His first visit to Denmark for a concert at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art was followed by his return to London, this time at the Barbican Centre and then the North Sea Jazz festival’s last edition at The Hague. He was especially honoured to participate in the Peace Festival 2005 – Beyond DMZ in Korea in August 2005.

Biography from Tomatito Website

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