Artist: Tomatito y
grupo
Venue: Konzerthaus
Location: Berlin,
Germany
Date: 28 October 2017
Tomatito, the renowned
flamenco guitarist from Andalusia, may have spent two decades
accompanying singer Camarón de la Isla, but he now fronts his own
group. He was joined by his son, José del Tomate, a proficient
guitarist in his own right; his daughter, vocalist Mari Ángeles;
vocalist Kiki Cortiñas; percussionist El Piraña; and
percussionist/dancer El Torombo. Most (but not all) of their songs
featured vocals, but the star of the show was usually Tomatito's
guitar. His technique ranged from lamentful, minor-key arpeggios to
whirlwind runs that were faster than the mind could follow.
The only other tonal
instrumentation came from José del Tomate. While he mostly played
rhythm parts underneath Tomatito's firestorm, he took a couple solos
that were just as impressive as his father's. The vocals from Mari
Ángeles and Kiki Cortiñas were similarly dramatic. They typically
sung in harmony, and while they clearly had expressive voices, I
found their style to be less compelling than the instrumental
performers.
The percussionists were
both a special treat. El Piraña initially played in a rather
restrained style, but he gradually picked up energy as the night went
on. His drumset consisted of a snare, a conga, several cymbals, and a
cajón, all of which he struck only with his hands. He took one solo
near the end that became a wild and fantastic fury of rhythm.
The real surprise came
from El Torombo. I was initially amused that he appeared to be solely
a professional handclapper. All of the performers contributed hand
percussion in some form of another, but the one microphone near El
Torombo was pointed at his hands from underneath, and he neither
played an instrument nor sang. However, shortly before the end of the
show, he got up in the middle of a song and slowly but carefully
walked to the center of the stage. In a sudden flash, he swung
himself around and began dancing in an elaborate manner with
rhythmically complex footwork. He continued this role for the next
song as well. It was an astonishing act in itself, but the music
matched the rhythm of his dance with an incredible precision, even
when the tempo increased to a frenzied peak.
Tomatito and his group
put on a captivating show. His guitar playing was fascinating on its
own, but combined with a talented group of complementary musicians,
it was a continual pleasure. Some of the slower songs that focused
more on the vocalists dragged slightly, but the instrumental
showpieces were a delight on every occasion. I appreciated that each
member contributed something vital to the show. The combination of
incredible guitarwork, well-crafted rhythm, and the bonus dancing
made this a quite memorable performance.
Score: A-
P.S. Thanks to Alyssa!
[The
Konzerthaus interior.]
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