Tomatito | |
|---|---|
 Tomatito inAlhóndiga de Granaditas in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | José Fernández Torres |
| Also known as | Tomatito |
| Born | (1958-08-20)August 20, 1958 (age 66) |
| Origin | Fondón,Almería |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Flamenco guitar |
| Years active | 1980s-present |
| Website | https://tomatito.org/en/homepage/ |
José Fernández Torres (bornFondón, 1958), known professionally asTomatito, is a Spanish romaflamenco guitarist and composer. Having started his career accompanying famed flamenco singerCamarón de la Isla (withPaco de Lucía), he has made a number of collaborative albums and six solo albums, two of which have wonLatin Grammy Awards.[1]
Jose Fernandez Torres grew up in a musical family, which included two guitar playing uncles: Niño Miguel, a flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist.
Tomatito, who had been playing clubs inAndalucía, became a flamenco sensation when he was discovered by guitarist Paco de Lucía. He accompanied legendary flamenco singerCamarón de la Isla for two decades. With Paco and Camarón he recorded four albums, and had a 1979 hit called "La Leyenda del Tiempo". Their albumParis 87 won aLatin Grammy for best flamenco album in 2000. Their partnership continued until Camarón's death in 1992.[2]
Tomatito's music blends traditional flamenco and jazz. On some albums, such asBarrio Negro, he experimented withAfro-Cuban andBrazilian Music. He has also worked with flamenco singersDuquende andPotito and pianistChano Domínguez, among others. A collaboration with pianistMichel Camilo produced the albumsSpain (2000), which won aLatin Grammy,[2] andSpain Again (2006).
Tomatito has produced six solo albums. His 2005 albumAguadulce won aLatin Grammy for best flamenco album, and in 2010 he won his second soloLatin Grammy forSonanta Suite.[3]
His music for the filmVengo, directed byTony Gatlif, won theCésar Award for Best Music Written for a Film in 2001.
On March 11, 2019, he was awarded by the Premio Flamenco Radio ofCanal Sur.[4]
Tomatito incorporates elements ofjazz 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 thePhrygian mode, and his favorite tuning is D, A, D, G, B♭, D.[2]
He plays guitars made by Manuel Reyes, and uses (and endorses) strings by Savarez.[2]
