Dorantes is an award-winning Flamenco Jazz pianist and composer who blends Classical, Celtic, Brazilian and other World sounds with his own Spanish Romani essence.
Dorantes is known as “the Paco de Lucía of the keys.” His combination of influences makes his music Pop in a way.
Dorantes’ has Deep Romani Roots
David Peña Dorantes was born in Lebrija, Spain, a small town outside of Seville, in 1969.
He is from a famous Romani Flamenco family. Dorantes is the son of Pedro Peña Fernández, grandson of María Fernández Granados, and nephew of Juan Peña “El Lebrijano.”
Dorantes started playing guitar as a child, but switched to piano when he was ten. That was a big deal because until the 1990s, the only accepted Flamenco instruments were voice, guitar, cajón, and castanets.
Dorantes recorded his first album in 1998.
Dorantes Albums
Orobroy (1998)
Orobroy was loved by both Flamenco purists and the general public. It generated a four-year long world tour.
Sur (2001)
“South” meaning Andalusia in southern Spain where Iberian, Romani, and Moorish/Arab influences birthed the Flamenco.
¡Sin Muros! (Universal, 2012)
“Without Walls!” Artists are always ahead of society.
Paseo a dos (2015)
“Walking as two”
El tiempo por testigo…a Sevilla (Flamenco Scultura, S.L., 2017)
“Time to witness…to Sevilla.”
Dorantes Makes Music for the World
Spain is both complicated and simple. It was the end of the world to the Europeans. Many ethnic groups pushing westward abandoned their journey in the rich land of Spain.
Early Spain was Celtic, Iberian, Jewish and Romani. Then it was Moorish and Arab. Then it was Spanish, but what is Spanish absorbed the culture of all the peoples who passed through.
At times we fought brutally, but when we lived in harmony, we built a civilization that was among the most advanced in the world for its time. The beautiful culture that remains with us, lives on in Andalusia, it lives on in the Flamenco.
Now is the time to bear witness to the beauty we can create . . . together.
Dorantes in NYC
The Flamenco Festival comes to Jazz at Lincoln Center when Dorantes Flamenco meets Jazz with Adam Ben Ezra and special guest Tim Ries at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Thursday – Saturday, March 22 – 24, 2018 with sets at 7:30 & 9:30 pm. Cover $25 – $45 with $10 minimum
Adam Ben Ezra is a double bass multi-instrumentalist who brings the bass out of the shadows to the front of the music. His styling blends Jazz, Latin, and Mediterranean music.
Tim Ries is a master of the tenor and soprano saxophones. He plays with everyone including Flamenco greats Sara Baras, Chano Dominguez, and even the Rolling Stones.
Dorantes Reservations
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Thursday – Saturday
March 22 – 24, 2018
7:30 pm & 9:30 pm
$25 – $45 with a $10 minimum