With refined technique and a unique emotional communication ability, Antonio Rey Navas, born in Madrid in 1981, is one of the most prominent and revolutionary flamenco guitarists of today.
Since childhood, he has shown exceptional talent for the guitar, influenced by flamenco greats and immersed in a family tradition of flamenco music. He fuses the roots of flamenco with elements of jazz and classical music. His style is a meeting between flamenco tradition and the expressive freedom of jazz, with virtuosity that excites both purists and new listeners alike.
Antonio Rey is one of the most promising guitarists of today, backed by awards in the most important flamenco competitions, being the National Guitar Award winner in 2010, as were Paco de Lucía, Vicente Amigo, and Paco Peña before him. These accomplishments caught the attention of Gerardo Núñez, who produced his first album “A través de ti”.
Not only is he a virtuoso, but Antonio Rey is also an original, different, inspired, and surprising guitarist, as demonstrated in his album for EMI Music, “Colores del Fuego” (2011). He has collaborated with great music artists such as Estrella Morente, Tommy Emmanuel, Vicente Amigo, Nishat Kahn, Manuela Carrasco, Farruquito, and Rafael Amargo. He has performed at festivals and venues such as the New York City Center, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Madrid Jazz Festival, Monterrey Flamenco Festival, Moscow Performing Arts Center, Nimes Flamenco Festival, Barcelona Jazz Festival, Mont de Marsan Flamenco Festival, Jerez Flamenco Festival, and Seville Flamenco Biennial. He has shared the stage with Paco de Lucía on numerous occasions.
He released the album “Camino al Alma” in May 2013. In “Arco de Santiago”, thrilling and virtuosic bulerías, Antonio Rey features the collaboration of singer Diego El Cigala, along with contributions from Miguel Poveda, Josemi Carmona, and Chaboli. Recorded in the flamenco-rich neighborhood of Santiago in Jerez de la Frontera, Antonio Rey’s third album signifies a new evolution towards musical maturity.
After the passing of maestro Paco de Lucía, Antonio Rey formed a quartet often joined by the gypsy dancer “Farru” to pay tribute to the great maestro in venues such as the Philharmonie de Paris.
“Dos Partes de Mí”, Antonio Rey’s new album released in 2017, refers to his flamenco origin and his parallel destiny as a universal musician. In this album, he not only gathers companions and fellow countrymen but also opens with the title track recorded in Jerez, featuring the stellar collaboration of Cameroonian Richard Bona.
In addition to honoring his great inspirers Paco, Vicente, Riqueni, and Moraíto Chico, “Dos Partes de Mi” aims to capture the subtle beauty of the bolero in flamenco language, caressed by the weeping strings of Bernardo Parrilla and the unmistakable lament of Diego El Cigala.
The “morao” spirit is present in the Soleá. The joy of love also finds its place in the Rumba dedicated to “his Luisa”. The unusual sound world of Antonio Rey is a place where the rigidity of jonda tradition and the expressive freedom of jazz meet, where Andalusia and Africa embrace, where a picado stabs the soul while a falseta soothes the heart, where tones blur and then come to light, where harmony and rhythm coexist, and where freedom reigns.
In 2019, he collaborated with El Barrio, Pablo Alborán, Diego El Cigala, and the great Richard Bona, in the concert tour Bona de la Frontera. He recorded the live DVD “Dos Partes de Mí” at the Palau de la Música Catalana during the Maestros de la Guitarra cycle. For 2020, he will release a new recording after his tours in the USA and Mexico.
A staunch defender of the solo guitar tradition, Antonio moves effortlessly between Taranta, Soleá, and Guajira. Makarines join to recall some experiences from the previous CD “Camino al Alma”, culminating with “Ídolo”, where Farruquito ignites the surroundings with brilliant footwork. Antonio Rey is crowned as the Midas of his musical sphere, enriching those present with his treasure chest, which is his guitar.
Guitar Award at the National Flamenco Guitar Competition of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat 2003
“Bordón Minero” Award at the Las Minas Festival in La Unión 2003
Guitar Award at the International Flamenco Guitar Competition “Los Cernícalos de Jerez” 2004
Guitar Award at the International Flamenco Guitar Competition Niño Ricardo de Murcia 2008
Guitar Award at the National Flamenco Art Competition of Córdoba 2010
Giraldillo Award “Al Toque” 2012 at the Seville Biennial.
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