Tomatito

José Fernández Torres (born Fondón, 1958), known professionally as Tomatito, is a Spanish Roma flamenco guitarist and composer. Having started his career accompanying famed flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla (with Paco de Lucía), he has made a number of collaborative albums and six solo albums, two of which have won Latin Grammy Awardes.

Biography

Beginnings, Camarón de la Isla Jose Fernández Torres grew up in a musical family, which included two guitar playing uncles: Niño Miguel, a flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist.

Tomatito, who had been playing clubs in Andalucía, became a flamenco sensation when he was discovered by guitarist Paco de Lucía. He accompanied legendary flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla for two decades. With Paco and Camarón he recorded four albums, and had a 1979 hit called "La Leyenda del Tiempo". Their album Paris 87 won a Latin Grammy for best flamenco album in 2000. Their partnership continued until Camarón's death in 1992.

Later career Tomatito's music blends traditional flamenco and jazz. On some albums, such as Barrio Negro, he experimented with Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Music. He has also worked with flamenco singers Duquende and Potito and pianist Chano Domínguez, among others. A collaboration with pianist Michel Camilo produced the albums Spain (2000), which won a Latin Grammy,

His music for the film Vengo, directed by Tony Gatlif, won the César Award for Best Music Written for a Film in 2001.

On March 11, 2019, he was awarded by the Premio Flamenco Radio of Canal Sur.

Style and instruments Tomatito incorporates elements of jazz in his style of flamenco; both, he says, "emerged as a response to discrimination, a cry of suffering, or the joy of liberation". Half of what he plays is improvised, he said. He frequently employs the Phrygian mode, and his favorite tuning is D, A, D, G, B♭, D. 2013: Soy Flamenco 2016: Spain Forever (with Michel Camilo) 2019: Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuez

Singles 2012: "Mi Santa" Ft Romeo

With Camarón de la Isla and Paco de Lucía 1981: "Como El Agua" 1983: "Calle Real" 1984: "Vivire" 1992: "Potro de Rabia y Miel"

With Camarón de la Isla 1979: "La Leyenda del Tiempo" 1986: "Te lo Dice Camarón" 1987: "Flamenco Vivo" 1989: "Soy Gitano" 1994: "Camarón Nuestro" 1999: Paris 1987