Israel Fernández is a Spanish Romani flamenco singer from Corral de Almaguer, Toledo, Spain.
He’s fairly young, with a young person’s point of view, but Fernández sings “cante jondo” (deep song) a very old traditional form of Andalusian folk music. It is pure Romani. It was already considered an old folkloric style in the 1920s. At some level, cante jondo is the original Romani flamenco.
Yes flamenco is Spanish, but it originates as Romani culture. The Romani were originally traveling court musicians in Punjab and Rajasthan in northern India. They are still there, but some left about 1,000 years ago and traveled two routes to southern Spain: the northern route through Türkiye, the Balkans, and southern Europe; and the southern route through Arab and Jewish lands, and North Africa. They absorbed many traditions along the way. The fiery hands of a flamenco dancer comes from the hand movements of an Indian temple dancer. The flamenco cry comes from the Muslim call to prayer. The oriental influence is more present in cante jondo.
What an interesting artist, a young guy, singing a very old style of flamenco, and thereby making it new again. ¡Olé!
Israel Fernández in New York City
Spanish Romani Flamenco Festival New York
Spanish Romani singer Israel Fernández and guitarist Diego Del Morao play Romani Spanish flamenco for the World Music Institute and Flamenco Festival New York; in Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center in Lincoln Square, Manhattan; on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 8pm. From $45. worldmusicinstitute.org 🇪🇸
Israel Fernández
Israel Fernández was born in Corral de Almaguer, Toledo, Spain in 1989. Influenced by his mother and grandmother, he won his first television singing contest at age 11.
Fernández blends traditional flamenco with his own style which though contemporary, has the flamenco character of the voices of old. He has recently been recording and touring with flamenco guitarist Diego del Morao.
Albums
- “Pura Sangre” (2023) is an album about the young flamenco singer’s relationship with the world.
- “Amor” (2020) won the Odeon award (Spanish Grammys) for “Best Flamenco Album,” and was Latin Grammy nominated for “Best Flamenco Album.”
- “Universo Pastora” (2018) pays tribute to Pastora Pavón “La Niña de los Peines” (Seville, Spain, 1890-1969). She was the most important female flamenco singer of the 20th century. Israel’s third album ‘Universo Pastora’ (Pastora’s Universe) pays tribute to Pastora Pavón “La Niña de los Peines” (Seville, Spain, 1890-1969). She was the most important female flamenco singer of the 20th century. Pavón began singing to support her family as a child in 1898, before the age of the phonograph. Though she participated in the ópera flamenca shows of the modern period and made many recordings, Pavón remained a link to the simple flamenco of the 19th century. Once upon a time, there were no flamenco shows. There was only flamenco at home with family. That’s what Pavón represents.
- “Con Hilo de Oro Fino” (2014)
- “Naranjas Sobre la Nieve” (2008)
New York Venues
Social Media
Instagram @israelfernandezcantaor
Original coverage was sponsored by the World Music Institute. Thank you!