Known generally for his breakthrough work in flamenco, tango and Latin jazz, Diego El Cigala returns to his roots in traditional flamenco, providing a rare opportunity for audiences to see him performing the deeply moving flamenco puro live on stage. This program marks his return to New York after his 2011 WMI Town Hall concert, which was named one of the most memorable performances of the year in the New York Times. He is joined by special guest guitarist Diego Del Morao, and palmeros (handclap percussionists) Juan Grande, Ané Carrasco, and Cantarote.
Diego el Cigala has performed with many of the most important names in flamenco, and is well-known internationally for his pioneering work in fusing flamenco with Latin American music forms such as bolero, Afro-Caribbean jazz, and tango. His collaborations with Latin jazz icons Jerry Gonzalez and Bebo Valdés are revered as breakthroughs in flamenco and Latin jazz.
His Latin Grammy-award winning recordings include: Lagrimas Negras, his work with Cuban jazz pianist Bebo Valdés that became one of the one of the top-selling albums ever in Spain and was named Album of the Year in the New York Times by Ben Ratliff; Picasso en Mis Ojos, his homage to the great painter Picasso that featured guitar maestro Paco de Lucia, Tomatito, and Jerry Gonzalez and won the award for Best Flamenco Album; and the recent Cigala & Tango, an album where “the genuine passion and fierceness of flamenco emerges” (The Observer).
Born in Madrid, Diego el Cigala is from a musical family. His mother Aurora Salazar Motos, sister of the great musician Rafael Farina from Salamanca, did not pursue a professional career as a singer, but touched those who listened to her flamenco song; his Andalucían father José de Córdoba made a living at popular tablaos (flamenco clubs).
Diego was barely 12 years old when he won the Certamen Flamenco Joven de Getafe competition for young singers. He started to sing for such famed flamenco dancers as Mario Maya, Farruco, Manolete and El Güito; musicians such as Camarón, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo began collaborating with him on their recordings.
In 1997, he started his solo career with the album Undebel. Since then he has gone on to record Piratas del flamenco with Jerry Gonzalez; Lagrimas Negras, Picasso en Mis Ojos; Dos Lagrimas, his 2008 project which reinterpreted boleros, coplas and tangos and featured Cuban percussion giants Tata Guines and Changuito; and Cigala & Tango, which featured the concert he performed with his ensemble and special guest artists from Argentina – Andres Calamaro, Nestor Marconi and Pablo Agri – at the Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires. In November 2011, he premiered Cigala & Tango at Town Hall.
Diego del Morao is the son of the legendary Moraíto Chico, who along with his granduncle Manuel Morao, developed the signature sound of traditional Jerez-style flamenco guitar. Taking his family legacy into the 21st century, he has become one of today’s most sought after guitarists. He has been acclaimed for his performances with many of flamenco’s leading artists, including La Macanita, José Mercé and Diego Carrasco. He has worked regularly with Diego el Cigala since 2004, participating in the Latin Grammy-winning albums Picasso en mis ojos and Cigala & Tango, and accompanying him throughout the world on his tours. In 2010 Del Morao made his solo recording debut with the album Orate (Cigala Music), on which he collaborated with his father Moraíto, Paco de Lucía, Niña Pastori, Diego Carrasco, and Diego el Cigala.
Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street, NYC
$45, $55, $65; students $20 Ticketmaster (800) 982-2787
$125 VIP tickets include reception – call (212) 545-7536
Info/tickets (212) 545-7536 www.worldmusicinstitute.org
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
