Pepe Martinez
Encyclopedia
Pepe Martínez was a Spanish flamenco
guitarist born into a musical family, in the Seville quarter of Macarena
. His mother, Isabel, was famous for her singing of religiously inspired Saetas, a vocal style which has since been incorporated into the flamenco palo.
Pepe was a virtuoso exponent of 'Flamenco Lírico', a style of playing which emphasises the melodic as well as rhythmic elements of flamenco. His musical style reflected his warm personality. His playing, even more than many other flamenco guitarists of the time, was strongly influenced by that of his mentor, Ramón Montoya
.
Pepe initially excelled in accompanying the Cante and Baile before developing a solo concert career. As an accompanist he played with such artists as Pepe Marchena, Niña de los Peines, Pepe Pinto, Juanito Valderrama, Niña de la Puebla, Niña de Antequera, Pepe Aznalcollar, Pepe Guillena, Niño de la Huerta amongst others.
Pepe was cited by Carlos Montoya
, in the New York Guitar Review, as being one of the very finest flamenco guitarists of his generation along with Manolo de Huelva, Sabicas
, Mario Escudero and Niño Ricardo.
Pepe Martínez made many recordings throughout his career, in Spain, France and the UK, on Columbia, Belter, Discophone, HMV, Odeon, Hispavox, Decca, Odean, Guilde Internationale du Disque and Discophon.
The BBC made a documentary on his life ("My Friend Pepe Martinez") as part of a series about the spirit of Spain. Pepe also featured, along with Andres Segovia, in a French television film titled Sortileges du Flamenco.
During his career, Martínez played guitars by Archangel Fernandez, Marcelo Barbero and Manuel Reyes. It was Pepe Martínez who introduced the young Manuel Reyes to the workshop of Marcelo Barbero.
His pupil, Prof. Malcolm Weller, of the Spanish Guitar Centre, owns his Barbero guitar.
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
guitarist born into a musical family, in the Seville quarter of Macarena
Macarena
-Places:* Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza de la Macarena , a church in Macarena, Seville* Macarena, Seville, a neighborhood in Seville, Spain, where "La Macarena" is located* Serranía de la Macarena, a range of mountains in Colombia...
. His mother, Isabel, was famous for her singing of religiously inspired Saetas, a vocal style which has since been incorporated into the flamenco palo.
Pepe was a virtuoso exponent of 'Flamenco Lírico', a style of playing which emphasises the melodic as well as rhythmic elements of flamenco. His musical style reflected his warm personality. His playing, even more than many other flamenco guitarists of the time, was strongly influenced by that of his mentor, Ramón Montoya
Ramón Montoya
Ramón Montoya , Flamenco guitarist and composer.Born into a family of Gitano cattle traders, Ramón Montoya used earnings from working in the trade to buy his first guitar...
.
Pepe initially excelled in accompanying the Cante and Baile before developing a solo concert career. As an accompanist he played with such artists as Pepe Marchena, Niña de los Peines, Pepe Pinto, Juanito Valderrama, Niña de la Puebla, Niña de Antequera, Pepe Aznalcollar, Pepe Guillena, Niño de la Huerta amongst others.
Pepe was cited by Carlos Montoya
Carlos Montoya
Carlos Montoya was a prominent Flamenco guitarist and a founder of the modern-day popular Flamenco style of music.His unique style and successful career, despite all odds, have left a great legacy for modern day Flamenco...
, in the New York Guitar Review, as being one of the very finest flamenco guitarists of his generation along with Manolo de Huelva, Sabicas
Sabicas
Sabicas was a Flamenco guitarist, of Romani origin, who was born in 1912 in Pamplona, Spain and died in 14 April 1990 in New York....
, Mario Escudero and Niño Ricardo.
Pepe Martínez made many recordings throughout his career, in Spain, France and the UK, on Columbia, Belter, Discophone, HMV, Odeon, Hispavox, Decca, Odean, Guilde Internationale du Disque and Discophon.
The BBC made a documentary on his life ("My Friend Pepe Martinez") as part of a series about the spirit of Spain. Pepe also featured, along with Andres Segovia, in a French television film titled Sortileges du Flamenco.
During his career, Martínez played guitars by Archangel Fernandez, Marcelo Barbero and Manuel Reyes. It was Pepe Martínez who introduced the young Manuel Reyes to the workshop of Marcelo Barbero.
His pupil, Prof. Malcolm Weller, of the Spanish Guitar Centre, owns his Barbero guitar.