Tomatito is a Latin Grammy-winning Spanish Romani flamenco guitarist and composer. His sound is traditional flamenco infused with jazz. He has also experimented with Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music.
Flamenco is from Southern Spain, jazz is from New Orleans, son Cubano is from Cuba, and samba and bossa nova are from Brazil. But flamenco, son Cubano, samba, and bossa nova all go together like a hand in a glove. All are connected to the African diaspora.
Tomatito in New York City
Tomatito, who gained fame as Camarón de la Isla’s guitarist, opens the Flamenco Festival New York for the World Music Institute; at The Town Hall in Midtown, Manhattan; on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 8pm. From $35. worldmusicinstitute.org 🇪🇸
New York Venues
These are some New York venues Tomatito has played recently:
Tomatito
José Fernández Torres was born into a musical Romani family in Fondón, a small town in Almería, near Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast, on August 20, 1958. Tomatito was discovered playing clubs in Andalucía by Paco de Lucía.
Tomatito made his name accompanying flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla for around twenty years.
Key Albums
As of 2024, Tomatito has won seven Latin Grammys from seven nominating seasons. In 2000, Tomatito won Latin Grammys for both flamenco and jazz.
- “La Leyenda del Tiempo” (1979) with Paco de Lucía and Camarón de la Isla was a hit record.
- “Paris 87” (2000) won the Latin Grammy for “Best Flamenco Album.”
- “Spain” (2000), with Dominican pianist and composer Michel Camilo, won a Latin Grammy for “Latin Jazz Album.”
- “Vengo” (2001) film score won the César (French Grammy) for “Best Music Written for Film.”
- “Aguadulce” (2005) won a Latin Grammy for “Best Flamenco Album.”
- “Spain Again” (2007) won a Latin Grammy for “Best Latin Jazz Album.”
- “Sonanta Suite” (2010) won a Latin Grammy for “Best Flamenco Album.”
- “Soy Flamenco” (2013) won a Latin Grammy for “Best Flamenco Album.”
- “Spain Forever” (2017) won a Latin Grammy for “Best Instrumental Album.”
Follow
Instagram @tomatitoguitarrista58
Tomatito coverage has been sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center and the World Music Institute. Thank you!