WOMAD

Diego Guerrero y El Solar de Artistas

From Spain

Singer, guitarist and producer Diego Guerrero looks beyond convention and history to fuse the passionate music and songs of flamenco with Afro-Cuban rhythms and the added spice of contemporary jazz - a blend reflected in the personnel of his septet. With his Spanish compadres of flamenco guitarist José Fernández and singer Naike Ponce is a skilled Cuban rhythm section - bassist Dany Noel, pianist Luis Guerra and drummer Pico Miliám - and flamboyant percussionist Nasrine Rahmani, of Persian and Mauritian heritage, who recently relocated to Spain from Australia. Diego, born in Andalusia and now living in Madrid, is recognised as a ground breaking young innovator, twisting strains of tango and copla, salsa and jazz into flamenco, yet remaining faithful to the purity of the music's essence. Diego became recognised by Spain's musical elite after becoming arranger and director of the first 'flamenco big band' on the invitation of legendary percussionist Rubem Dantas, from the Paco de Lucia Septet. His projects are innovative, boasting collaborations with flamenco flute player Jorge Pardo on the Huellas album and performing live with Israeli singer Idan Raichel (Diego will produce the next Idan Raichel Project album), although his voice carries the raw, grainy expressiveness that characterises the gritty passion of true flamenco.

(Biography supplied by WOMAD New Zealand 2012)

Diego Guerrero Y El Solare De Artistas 'A Farina'

Diego Guerrero y El Solar de Artistas's » Myspace Page