Biografía

J	osé Antonio Rodríguez was born in Córdoba (28 - 3 - 1964).

1981 - First Prize for Flamenco Guitar Concert, at the XXI Festival de Cante de las Minas de la Unión.

1982 First Prize for Flamenco Guitar Concert at the XI National Contest of Flamenco Guitar in Jerez de la Frontera.

1984 He obtains the Official title of Flamenco Guitar teacher at the High Conservatory of Music in Córdoba. At the age of 20, he was the youngest guitar teacher in flamenco.

1986 National Prize “Ramón Montoya” for Flamenco Guitar Concert at the XI National Contest of Flamenco Art in Córdoba. The same year he was elected member of Fundación Societat i Cultura “Live Music now” as a guitar player. His premiere in Madrid, at Centro Cultural de la Villa, was a great success, where many personalities of the literature, music and theatre were present.

1987 Premiere of his work “Guajira Para Guitarra Flamenca Y Orquesta” within the extraordinary concerts on the occasion of “Andalucía Day”.

1988 Intensive period of concerts in Europe and America. That same year he composed the music for the work “Tiempo De Amor Y Muerte” for its premiere in Seville, with choreography of Mario Maya. He releases two solo CDs interpreting his own compositions, “Calahorra” and “Callejon De Las Flores”. Some of his compositions are included in CDs released in Europe, such as his “Valls Flamenco” edited by Ex Libris Digital Recording.

1990 Premiere of his concert for flamenco guitar “Viento De Libertad”, being this his more ambitious work. For that project he counted on the orchestral collaboration of Joan Albert Amargós.

1992 The Bienal de Arte Flamenco “Ciudad de Sevilla” asked him to arrange the composition, orchestration and musical management of the show “Tango”. He took part in the recording of “Sevilla Es Asi” for the inauguration of Expo 92 in Sevilla.

1993 He took part in the soundtrack of the film “La Lola Se Va A Los Puertos”, starring Rocío Jurado.

1994 He composed, with Joan Albert Amargós, and choreography of Mario Maya, the work “Requiem” for the world premiere of the Compañía Andaluza De Danza. He also participated in the performance of the show “A Oscuras” with Enrique Morente and Esperanza Fernández.

1995 He begins a tour with the Cultural Series “Conocer el Flamenco” with Manolo Sanlúcar. He took part in several moments in the film “Flamenco” by Carlos Saura. He participated in the new mixing of the recording “Nochebuena Gitana” accompanying Camarón and Paco de Lucía. He composed the original music of the work “Retratos En La Memoria” with choreography of Ramón Oller, whose premiere was at the Festival Internacional de Danza in Sevilla.

1996 Premiere of the new orchestration of “Viento De Libertad” conducted by Joan Albert Amargós.

1997 He composed the work “El Jaleo” by request of Centro Andaluz De Danza with choreography by María Pages and Fernando Romero.

1998 Premiere of his last recording work “Manhattan De La Frontera” at Bienal De Arte Flamenco De Sevilla.

1999 Large tour with concerts in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

2000 He produces and collaborates in albums of known artists such as Esperanza Fernández, Omar, Faruk Tekbilek, Matt Bianco, Hakin, José Manuel Soto, “Manzanita”, Natalia Oreiro... He participates in many guitar festivals (Córdoba, Valencia, Aveiro...) with concerts and flamenco guitar courses. He performs at Athens Concert Hall, as well as at Theatre Savoy in Helsinki and Arts National Centre in Mexico, obtaining great success.

2001 By petition of the Flamenco Art Contest Of Cordoba, he composes “El Guitarrista Azul”, symphony in four movements for guitar and orchestra. The orchestration is made by Enric Palomar and the premiere on 12th May with the Cordoba Orchestra and conducted by Joan Albert Amargós is a complete success. This same year starts his collaboration as teacher in the guitar courses in Cordoba directed by Manolo Sanlúcar. These courses specially prepared by Manolo Sanlúcar are unique in Spain, and the teachers are required to have a high theoretical and technical preparation. He also performs in several European cities and in Mexico (Arts National Centre) and La Havana – Cuba (Guitar Festival of La Havana). He collaborates with Carmen Linares and Ala dos Namorados in the presentation of the project Fado and Flamenco in Madrid. He records with Ana Gabriel, Niña Pastori, Remedios Amaya and “Papa Levante”.

2002 He made the musical composition for a ballet “La Leyenda” which premiere by Compañía Andaluza de Danza was at XII Bienal De Arte Flamenco De Sevilla (September 2002) and his new work “Alquimia”, and which premiere was also at the mentioned Bienal De Arte Flamenco De Sevilla. Concerts in Montreal, Québec, Seville, Madrid, Thessaloniki…

2003 He receives the recognition of his city, Córdoba, and Peña Flamenca de Córdoba dedicated him its week. This same year he composed and directed the work “Tiempo” for the Spanish Nacional Ballet with choreography by Joaquín Grilo, was presented with great success on 23rd January 2004.

2004 From February till September 2004 he will be on a world tour in Central America, South America, USA and Spain presenting the new album “No es lo mismo” by Alejandro Sanz. He has recorded four songs for the new show of Antonio Canales “Carmen, Carmela” based in the opera “Carmen” by Bizet with arrangements for guitar by Juan Víctor Yagüe. His new CD “La Leyenda” is released. He participates in the last film by Carlos Saura “El séptimo día” playing the guitar with music by Roque Baños. He composed the soundtrack of the theatre work “Carmen XXI” by Antonio Alamo, with direction of Alfonso Zurro. He recorded with Alejandro Sanz, (Voice and guitar) “Sozinho” by Caetano Veloso for the album “Samba pa ti. Recording of two songs for the album “Greatest hits 91-04” of Alejandro Sanz. Participation in the film “Escuela de Seducción”.

2005 Participation with Alejandro Sanz in the Children Night in Los Angeles (US) together with Jenifer López, Marc Anthony, Joaquín Cortés, etc. He performed as guest artist in the concert of Antonio Orozco in Seville, performing “Es mi Soledad”. He performed as guest artist in the concert of Antonio Orozco in Valencia in the painting awards “Angel”. He participated in the TV programme “Buenafuente”. He participates in the film by Carlos Saura “Iberia”. He presented together with the Spanish Nacional Ballet his work “La Leyenda”at Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid.

2006 He composed the original music of “CARMEN“ for Aida Gómez Company, which premiere was on 9/3/2006. He has participated in the films “Alatriste” and “Lola”. He composed the track “Detención” for the film “El Corazón de la Tierra” by Antonio Cuadri, which premiere will be in 2007. Premiere of “Córdoba... en el Tiempo” inaugurating the Guitar Festival in Córdoba in July 2006. His participation at the World Music Festivals, as well as his activities as composer and studio musician, took him to share the stage and recordings with great music stars such as: Paco Paco De Lucia, Manolo Sanlúcar, Astor Piazzola, Chick Corea, John Mclaughlin, Cacho Tirao, Al Di Meola, Larry Coryel, Matt Bianco, Duo Assad, Julian Bream, Costas Cotsiolis, José Miguel Evora, Azucar Moreno, Rocío Jurado, J.M. Soto, Joan Baez, Camaron, Ana Gabriel, George Benson, Fosforito, J. Menese, Diego Carrasco, Los del Rio, Lulo Pérez, José Mercé, José El Francés, Joan Albert Amargos, Carmen Linares, Bernd Voss, Manolo Marvizón, Arturo Sandoval,Carles Benavent, Rubem Dantas, Manuel Soler, Noa, Jorge Pardo, Tino Di Geraldo, Vinnie Colavitta, Horacio Hernández “El negro”, Anthony Jackson, Luís Conte, Alejandro Sanz, Antonio Orozco, orchestras: Orquesta De Cordoba, The Royal Philarmonic Orchestre, Sinfonica De Sevilla among others. Producers: Roberto Livi, Ricardo Pachon, Eddy Martinez, Jose luis de Carlos, Lulo Pérez and Alejandro Sanz, Rafa Sardina, Steve Sehan, Humberto Gatica and many other musicians and producers. He has collaborated in worldwide hits like “MACARENA” by Los del Río. His large musical formation has taken him to collaborate with different styles: flamenco, pop, disco, balades, boleros, jazz, Turkish music, Portuguese music, Arabic music, electronic, etnic, etc… Apart from his concert and composition activities, he also teaches at the International Guitar Courses.

2007

He starts a tour with the work IBERIA together with the piano player Rosa Torres Pardo and the dancer Lola Greco performing at theatres such as Maestranza in Seville, Villamarta in Jerez and Festivals such as Flamenco London in England.

He signs with the record company UNIVERSAL MUSIC SPAIN.

Premiere of the films “Lola” and “El corazon de la tierra” where he participates in the soundtrack.

He continues his concert tour in Spain, Mexico, England, France, Korea...

He has been part of the jury and special guest in the Flamenco National Contest in Cordoba (May 2007).

On 7th May he presented his last CD + DVD “Cordoba... en el tiempo” in Córdoba.

He was invited to the solidary concert “Flamenco pa tos” together with Arcangel and Dorantes.

He participates in the CD of Pedro Javier Hermosilla collaborating in a track together with Antonio Orozco.

Spanish tour with Alejandro Sanz “El Tren de los momentos” (August-September 2007).

 

 

C	ompositions:

FOR ORQUESTA:
• “GUAJIRA PARA GUITARRA FLAMENCA Y ORQUESTA” (1987)
• “VIENTO DE LIBERTAD” (1990)
• “EL GUITARRISTA AZUL” (2001)

FOR BALLET:
• “TIEMPO AMOR Y MUERTE” (1988) Coreografía: Mario Maya
• “TANGO” (1992) Musical
• “REQUIEM” (1994) Ballet for the Compañía Andaluza de Danza. Flamenco composition: J.A. Rodríguez. Classic composition: J.A. Amargós Choreography: Mario Maya
• “RETRATOS DE LA MEMORIA” (1995) Choreography: Ramón Oller
• “EL JALEO” (1997) Choreography: María Pages and Fernando Romero
• “LA LEYENDA” (2002) Compañía Andaluza de Danza. Choreography: José Antonio.
• “TIEMPO” (2003) Spanish National Ballet B.N.E. Choreography: Joaquín Grilo
• “CARMEN” (2006) Aida Gomez company


FOR FILM:
• “LA LOLA SE VA A LOS PUERTOS” (1993). Collaboration in B.S.O.
• ”FLAMENCO” (1995) Director: Carlos Saura. Collaboration in B.S.O.
• “FUGITIVAS” main song of the film.
• “SOBREVIVIRE” main song of the film.
• “EL SEPTIMO DIA” main song of the film. Director: Carlos Saura. 2004
• “ESCUELA DE SEDUCCION” 2004
• “IBERIA” (2005) Director Carlos Saura. Participation as musician and actor.
• LOS 2 LADOS DE LA CAMA (2005)
• LOLA (2006) Director Miguel Hermoso
• ALATRISTE- (2006)
• LOLA (2007) Director Miguel Hermoso
• EL CORAZON DE LA TIERRA (2007) Director Antonio Cuadri

FOR TELEVISION:
• Music of the programme “VIDAS PARALELAS”
• Music for the Cordoba Channel TV “MANANTIAL DE LUZ”

FOR VIDEO:
• Original music for the promotional video of the International Guitar Festival in Córdoba
• Prize at the Cinema Festival in Cannes.
• Participation in the promotional video of Picasso Museum.
• Participation together with the Symphonic Orchestra of Praga in the music of Wine Museum (Jerez de la Frontera – Cadiz)
• Spot of presentation of the Golf World Cup 2004 in Seville.
• TV Spot tour of Alejandro Sanz, US.
• Audiovisual Blas Infante Museum

 

 

P

rizes:

HE HAS THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT PRIZES GRANTED IN FLAMENCO

FIRST PRIZE XXI FESTIVAL DE CANTE DE THE MINAS DE LA UNIÓN. (1981)

FIRST PRIZE FOR FLAMENCO GUITAR CONCERT AT THE XI NATIONAL CONTEST OF FLAMENCO GUITAR IN JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA. (1982)

NATIONAL PRIZE “RAMÓN MONTOYA” FOR FLAMENCO GUITAR CONCERT (CÓRDOBA 1986)

HE OBTAINS THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF FLAMENCO GUITAR TEACHER AT THE HIGH CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC IN CÓRDOBA. AT THE AGE OF 20 (1984)

HE WAS ELECTED MEMBER OF THE FUNDATION “LIVE MUSIC NOW” WITH 22 YEARS OLD PROMOTED BY SIR YEHUDI MENUHIN, AND PRESIDED BY S.A.R. DON FELIPE DE BORBÓN. (1986).

 

 

P	ress rewiews:

ABOUT “EL GUITARRISTA AZUL”

 

“Extraordinary picassiano flamenco by José Antonio Rodríguez”.

“The tune of the flamenco guitar of José Antonio Rodríguez, together with the excellent notes flowing from Orquesta de Córdoba reflected the perfect symbiosis that both musical elements can reach”.
(12/5/01 – Diario Córdoba)

“The ‘blue period’ of Picasso inspired jondo sounds”.

“The result is a beautiful, soft, clear and bright work. Rodríguez has achieved maybe his best title as El guitarrista azul is a work which capture us since the beginning to the end, without empty times.
Angel Álvarez Caballero (13/5/01 – El País)
 

 

 ABOUT “ALQUIMIA”

“Music for long life”

“… José Antonio Rodríguez is confirmed in this style as a genial composer, with brain, eager of freshness and dynamiscs…” “He is exciting, interesting, amusing, sorprising… and gives lessons of how to create master pieces. Nothing stuns neither gets sick by excess.”

…”The Alchemist also needs some times of solitude. Introspective, brings out from himself innermost sounds, prive but at the same time shared. Well-founded, liquid, virtuoso and a bit rocker. Deep the “taranta”, precious the “farruca”, wonderful the “zapateado”. Flowing life from the philosopher’s stone… and Tomate standing up and clapping.”
Silvia Calado Olivo (flamenco-world.com 20/9/2002)

“Old and new José Antonio Rodríguez”.

…”It was a personal, untransferible and rigorous apotheosis by the guitarist from Cordoba”. “Or, as its name indicates, an alchemy able to transform the dust of past time for the splendour of a kind of modernity without stridences”.
Juan José Tellez (Diario de Sevilla-20/9/2002)

“Allegory of the alchemist and the genious”.

… “The Cordovan guitarist does not look like anyone. Probably many people look like him. His proposal is “jonda”, but oppening…” “Alquimia it is an insufficient word. You are not a wizard Jose Antonio. You are a genious”.
Alberto García (ABC-20/9/2002)



 

 

 

Generals:

 

 

…”His ‘fandango’ style, with a harmonic which was putting things in their place, shown a great, eternal and magic guitarist”.
Alberto García Reyes (ABC-18/5/2002)

..”Even the plot of his compositions was complicated, as it is difficult to follow his left hand, his exquisiteness lies, on the contrary, in the expositive clearness”.
Manuel Martín Martín(EL MUNDO-18/5/2002)

“Formal exuberance”.
“the most outstanding of this guitarist is his impresive technical control, almost squashy”.
Juan Vergillos (Diario de Sevilla-18/5/2002)



“My hat at your feet, maestro”.
“Both, as a soloist or as in a group, the flamenco music of José Antonio Rodríguez seemed to me deep and fresh, modern and pure, sincere and daring, elegant and natural. He is one of our best composers”.
Manuel Bohorquez (Correo de Andalucía, Sevilla – 4/10/98)

“… a concert in which we have detected new influences – mainly a more rhythmic and harmonious evolution, – but also a decisive intention of originality carried out through original ideas”.
“… thus, obtaining a recital with an irrepressible power and passion, rounding up with great intensive tonalities and secure effects”.
Manuel Martín Martín (El Mundo de Andalucía, Sevilla – 4/10/98)

“The Cordovan José Antonio Rodríguez is one of our most outstanding guitarists”.
“José Antonio Rodríguez and his accompanists placed themselves in a highly technical level and obtained great splendour, specially with those “bulerías” of Manhattan… really spectacular”.
Angel Alvarez Caballero (El País, Madrid – 4/10/98)

“The work of José Antonio Rodríguez goes much further than the traditional limits of the flamenco music. Using his flamenco “falsetas” he enriches them with very developed sounds. He is a virtuoso as he thoroughly controls the guitar, though his main virtue is as composer”.
Yorgos Monemvassitis (ELeyoepotynia – 21/11/84)

“The flamenco music of José Antonio Rodríguez reaches a soft conviction, to which we have to call by its name: style”.
“… a majestic sound, almost ceremonial, a technique of invisibly modest bravery, an inspiration that does not know haste or hesitation, and above all, has an extraordinary elegance”.
Felix Grande (L.P. “Calahorra”)

“The guitar of this young Cordovan maestro gave free vent to fantasy, knowledge and sublime technique making headways into the charming path of magic, light and poetry, put into music by the harmonic arrangement of a strong personality that convert him in an experienced composer”.
Manuel Martín Martín (El Correo de Andalucía – 5/11/85)

“The flamenco music of José Antonio Rodríguez characterises itself by a difficult technique and a solemn sound, as well as by the perfection of his original compositions that make him be one of the flamenco guitarists with major personality”.
Manuel Ríos Ruiz (ABC – 9/6/86)

“José Antonio Rodríguez is a young Mozart due to the natural talent of his compositions”.
Waldemar Hirsci (Bergische Morgenpost)