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Tomatito

Jose Fernandez Torres “Tomatito” was born in Almeria in 1958, in the Pescaderia neighborhood. His family is associated with Almeria since many generations back and has an inherent musical tradition. His Grandfather Miguel Fernandez Cortes “El Tomate” was a well-known figure at private parties at the turn of the century and among the young aficionados of Almeria’s traditional musical evenings, at which he played duets with his brother Antonio.

His father, Jose Fernandez Castro, also “El Tomate”, 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 as a youngster and later developed a career as a guitarist in France playing for artists such as Paco Isidro, and also Miguel “Nino Miguel”, who became a virtuoso classical guitarist in Huelva where he still lives.

Jose grew up in an environment closely linked toJosé 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 Jose Sorroche of Almeria’s Pena El Taranto flamenco club. The concert, at which he was presented as “Pepin Fernandez”, 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 Pena 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 Malaga, where he played in local orchestras. There he arranged for his son to work nightly at La Caneta'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 covers of songs by Paco de Lucia.

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 Lucia and even Camaron de la Isla, would hear him play for other well-known singers. He met Paco de Lucia at the marquee which the Taberna Gitana would mount at the Malaga Feria. Camaron, who was working at the time in the prestigious Torrebermejas club in Madrid, often spent time in Malaga.

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2024 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival

2024 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival

Source: Susan Gordon

Presenting world-class, highly acclaimed and influential flamenco performances direct from Spain, the 2024 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival returns this March with two nights at two venues featuring the return of a living legend: Tomatito, one of Spain’s great modern masters of the flamenco guitar with Special Guest Dancer Karime Amaya at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 7 at 8pm; and on Saturday, March 9 at 8pm, flamenco dancer extraordinaire from Madrid, José Maya with flamenco ...

The New Acoustic Collective
band / ensemble / orchestra
Abdallah Harati
guitar, acoustic

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