Pepe Habichuela
Encyclopedia
Pepe Habichuela is a Spanish flamenco guitarist, cited as one of the great flamenco masters and one of Spain's finest contemporary guitarists. He belongs to a flamenco dynasty of gypsies started by his grandfather, known as "Habichuela el Viejo" (Old Bean), who took the nickname, and continued by his father José Carmona and his brothers Juan Habichuela (1933), Carlos and Luis.
In 1964 he moved to Madrid where he performed in several flamenco shows and shared the stage with artists such as Juanito Valderrama, Camarón de la Isla
and Enrique Morente
. He recorded an album in tribute to singer Antonio Chacón
which won the National Prize of discography in 1975.
He is the father of José Miguel Carmona Niño and uncle of Juan José Carmona Amaya El Camborio and Antonio Carmona Amaya (sons of his brother Juan Habichuela). The three formed the New Flamenco band Ketama
. In 2001, Habichuela released the album Yerbagüena as part of Pepe Habichuela & The Bollywood Strings, a unique mix of flamenco guitar and Indian string music. He has also experimented with Arabic-flamenco fusion music. Habichuela was a mentor to Adam del Monte.
He has been described as "highly emotional" like Tomatito
, with one author saying "If flamenco has earned its rep as an overly emotional music, it isn't going to be Habichuela who turns it around."
In 1964 he moved to Madrid where he performed in several flamenco shows and shared the stage with artists such as Juanito Valderrama, Camarón de la Isla
Camarón de la Isla
Camarón de la Isla , was the stage name of a spanish flamenco singer José Monje Cruz who is sometimes also credited as Camarón de la Isla....
and Enrique Morente
Enrique Morente
Enrique Morente Cotelo, known as Enrique Morente, was a flamenco singer and a controversial figure within the world of contemporary flamenco...
. He recorded an album in tribute to singer Antonio Chacón
Antonio Chacón
Antonio Chacón was a Spanish flamenco singer [cantaor].Chacón began earning a living by performing flamenco around 1884. He toured Andalucia with his two friends, the Molina brothers - dancer Antonio Molina, and guitarist Javier Molina. He was later hired by Silverio Franconetti for his café in...
which won the National Prize of discography in 1975.
He is the father of José Miguel Carmona Niño and uncle of Juan José Carmona Amaya El Camborio and Antonio Carmona Amaya (sons of his brother Juan Habichuela). The three formed the New Flamenco band Ketama
Ketama
Ketama are a Spanish flamenco group in the fusion flamenco style. The leaders of what has been called New Flamenco, they brought a style that was somewhere between flamenco and pop salsa onto the musical scene that drew as much criticism as praise, but which has won over the young public and has...
. In 2001, Habichuela released the album Yerbagüena as part of Pepe Habichuela & The Bollywood Strings, a unique mix of flamenco guitar and Indian string music. He has also experimented with Arabic-flamenco fusion music. Habichuela was a mentor to Adam del Monte.
He has been described as "highly emotional" like Tomatito
Tomatito
José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito , is a Spanish Romani flamenco guitarist. He grew up in a musical family, including two uncles: Niño Miguel, a flamenco guitarist, and Antonio, a professional guitarist....
, with one author saying "If flamenco has earned its rep as an overly emotional music, it isn't going to be Habichuela who turns it around."
Principal albums
- Homenaje a D. Antonio Chacón (A tribute to D. Antonio Chacón) / Enrique Morente & Pepe Habichuela - 1 CD 1976
- A Mandeli / Pepe Habichuela - 1 CD 1983
- Habichuela en rama / Pepe Habichuela - 1 CD 1997
- Yerbagüena /Pepe Habichuela & The Bollywood Strings -1 CD 2001
- Nuevos Medios Colección / Pepe Habichuela - 1 CD 2003
- Hands / Pepe Habichuela & Dave HollandDave HollandDave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....
- 1 CD 2010