Flamenco Guitar Music ~ Spanish Guitar Music
Ricardo de Cristóbal is.....
a master guitarist with over 50 years of experience in his art. He was a guitarist of several years experience and some professional work when a chance visit to The Spaghetti Factory, a San Francisco restaurant, and a Flamenco show featuring singer/dancer Isa Mura and Flamenco guitarist Federico Mejía dramatically changed his life. A vivid Flamenco experience led to the acquisition of a Flamenco guitar and the first steps in an intense love of Flamenco.
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Flamenco Guitar Beginnings
Ricardo began his his studies in Flamenco by sitting at the juerga table in the bar at the original La Bodega Spanish restaurant on Columbus Ave. in San Francisco, trying to copy every guitarist who sat in. Niño Bernardo was often there, accompanying every singer, dancer and guitarist who dropped in, and then playing solo beautifully. Bernardo’s flexibility, creativity, and “in the moment” style was inspirational. Unbeknownst to Ricardo at the time, he was getting an education in “Estilo Pueblo” (Village Style) much like a traditional Andalusian education in flamenco guitar.
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Ricardo emulated the playing of Melchor Marchena in recordings with Flamenco singers Antonio Mairena and Manolo Caracol, quickly realizing when the singers sang creations of historical figures like El Planeta, Diego El Fillo, Antonio Frijones, or Paco La Luz that “Cante” (Flamenco singing) was the most important facet of Flamenco, much more so than guitar or dance. He also realized he needed an education in Flamenco history to understand the nature of Flamenco.
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Flamenco Development
Ricardo met two Flamencos who were very important: guitarist Cristóbal Dos Santos and singer Carlitos De Santa Cruz. Cristóbal was a protégé of legendary guitarist Diego Del Gastor of Morón de la Frontera and enhanced Ricardo’s education in “Estilo Pueblo". Cristóbal introduced Ricardo to the playing of Pedro Peña, Juan Maya, and Perico el del Lunar, in addition to the great artistry of Diego Del Gastor. Carlitos sang many Cantes of Antonio Chacón, and taught Ricardo accompaniment of Cante in great detail, and broadened his repertoire into Cante Andaluz as well as Cante Gitano.
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In listening to Ricardo you will hear not only the influences of Diego and Cristóbal, but also echoes of many great Flamenco guitarists from Ramon Montoya to Paco de Lucía. The burning aire of Melchor is everywhere and Ricardo’s flamenco heart bleeds through everything he plays. In addition to performance of traditional styles of Flamenco, Ricardo composes original music in a fusion of Flamenco, classical and jazz styles. Ricardo reads music when necessary, but prefers to learn, teach, and compose by ear and eye.
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