ABOUT DIEGO DEL GASTOR

Diego del Gastor (1908–1973) was one of the most influential flamenco guitarists of the 20th century and to this day his music continues to inspire flamenco artists and aficionados all over the world. He created a highly unique personal style of guitar playing characterized by strong rhythm and accents, understatement, savored notes, a subtle sense of humor and an emphasis on improvisation and the expression of genuine emotion.

Photo by Steve Kahn

Del Gastor was unparalleled in his accompaniment

of flamenco singing and was sought out by many of the great singers of his day such as Antonio Mairena, Juan Talega, Manolito de Mairena, Perrate and Joselero de Morón. The legendary singer Fernanda de Utrera put it this way: “Diego

and I were the most compatible team in all of

flamenco. Each one of us was in love with the other’s art. I was the strings of his guitar and he was the echo of my voice. No one has known how to pull out what I have inside of me like he has... ¡Viva Dios y viva Diego del Gastor!"

Photo by Bill Davidson

DIEGO AND THE BAY AREA FLAMENCO SCENE

In the early 1960s, American flamenco scholar Don Pohren published The Art of Flamenco with extensive references to Diego and Gypsy flamenco. The book was a catalyst that inspired aficionados from all over the world, many of whom travelled to Morón to study with the maestro and witness the spontaneous fiestas at the fabled bar Casa Pepe, a gathering place for some of the most renowned flamenco artists of the day. Del Gastor’s impact on American guitarists --including many from Northern California such as David Serva, Benjamin Flores Graham, Kenny Parker. Chris Carnes and Daniel Staffler-- has given rise to several generations of flamenco artists here who through exposure to his music have gained an understanding of Gypsy flamenco free of theatrical stereotypes.

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for a REVIEW of the Bay Area Premier of

SON DE LA FRONTERA