Pepe Habichuela (born 1944 as José Antonio Carmona Carmona) is a Spanish flamenco guitarist, cited as one of the great flamenco masters and one of Spain's finest contemporary guitarists.[1][2][3] He was born in Granada and belongs to a flamenco dynasty of gypsies[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] He has also experimented with Arabic-flamenco fusion music.[8] 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."[9][10]

Principal albums edit

  • Enrique Morente & Pepe Habichuela – Homenaje a D. Antonio Chacón (A tribute to Don Antonio Chacón) (Hispavox, 1976, re-released by EMI, 2000)
  • Enrique Morente – Despegando (CBS, 1977)
  • A Mandeli (Hannibal, 1983, re-released on Nuevos Medios, 1994)
  • Habichuela en rama (Nuevos Medios, 1997)
  • Pepe Habichuela & The Bollywood Strings – Yerbagüena (Nuevos Medios, 2001)
  • Nuevos Medios Colección (Nuevos Medios compilation, 2003)
  • Dave Holland & Pepe Habichuela – Hands (Dare2, 2010)

References edit

  1. ^ Davis, Elizabeth A. (April 1997). A basic music library: essential scores and sound recordings. Music Library Association, ALA Editions. p. 503. ISBN 978-0-8389-3461-6. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  2. ^ Webster, Jason (3 August 2010). Duende: A Journey In Search Of Flamenco. Transworld. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-4070-9461-8. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  3. ^ Cooper, David; Dawe, Kevin (2005). The Mediterranean in music: critical perspectives, common concerns, cultural differences. Scarecrow Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-8108-5407-9. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  4. ^ Hayes, Michelle Heffner (March 2009). Flamenco: conflicting histories of the dance. McFarland. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7864-3923-2. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Pepe Habichuela". Los Platos Comoojos. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  6. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (2 October 1999). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 82. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 29 November 2011. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (19 January 2002). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 54. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 29 November 2011. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Bordowitz, Hank (2004). Noise of the world: non-western musicians in their own words. Soft Skull Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-932360-60-8. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  9. ^ Garvey, Geoff; Ellingham, Mark (28 April 2009). The Rough Guide to Andalucia. Rough Guides Ltd. p. 596. ISBN 978-1-84836-037-2. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  10. ^ Musician. Amordian Press. 1987. Retrieved 29 November 2011.