Niño de Pura, flamenco guitar

A pupil of Sevillian maestros Manuel Lozano and Manolo Carmona, Daniel Navarro Cruz, better known as Niño de Pura, started playing guitar professionally at an early age while accompanying his brother, dancer Jose Joaquin. His most influential teacher was Manolo Sanlucar, considered an iconic flamenco musician, educator, and guitarist in Spain with a list of highly accomplished pupils including Vicente Amigo.

Niño de Pura was born in Seville in 1966. From a very early age, he began to enter contests, and became one of the most prize-winning guitarist in Spain. Foremost among his prizes are First prize of the Flamencology Professorship of Jerez, First prize of the Flamenco Guitar Young Performers Contest at Seville’s 3rd Bienal of Flamenco Art, the Bordon Minero of La Union’s Las Minas Festival, the Zipa de Oro 1985 prize from the Colombian press, and the Giraldillo del Toque of Seville’s 6th Bienal of Flamenco Art.

In the mid-1980s, Niño joined the international circuit, with his first concert tour around South America. At the same time, he accompanied top-rate singers and dancers, both in concert and in recording studios. From the late eighties to the early nineties, he recorded on all the Spanish television stations and toured Japan with the show Estrellas de la Bienal (Stars of the Bienal).

 Niño de Pura recorded his first solo album in 1986: Capricho de bohemia. Following this record was Caliente in 1991 which featured both his own compositions and original arrangements. He soon became a highly sought-after studio musician, composer and arranger/writer for record companies and producers. His best-known songs and studio productions from this period are ‘Acero frio’ and ‘Orzo Rom’ by Aurora Vargas and Por la bahia by Pansequito. In 1993, he composed ‘Mas alla de la luz’ for solo guitar and chamber orchestra, a work which premiered at the Reales Alcazares in Seville. His third solo album was Maquida released in 1996. His last release was ‘Pozo y caudal’, an album on which he is accompanied by guest artists Carles Benavent, Tino di Geraldo, La Macanita, and Rafael de Utrera.

On dance stage, he composed a part of ‘El Perro Andaluz’ for the Andalusian Dance Company directed by Maria Pages, and in 1998, for Jose Joaquin’s Company he composed the music for their show Sansueña. Together with guitarist Manolo Franco, he presented the show ‘Compadres’ at Seville’s 1999 Bienal which was later presented in Guadalajara (Mexico). One year later, he performed in the joint concert titled Guitarra Amiga with guitarists Manolo Franco, Miguel Angel Cortes, and Pedro Sierra. In 2001, he appeared at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (Holland) before more than two thousand people with his show titled ‘Todo Corazón’.

Niño de Pura continues to internationalize his art, appearing at prestigious stages of London (Royal Albert Hall), France, Germany, Belgium, Mexico, Chile, and Spain. He has appeared with many of the well-known great guitarists including Costas Cotsiolis, Pavel Steidl, Ralph Towner, Hopkinson Smith, Silvina Lopez, Maria Esther Guzman, Alex Garrobe, Yamandu Costa, Roberto Limon, Roberto Aussel, and Aldo Lagrutta.

BAND MEMBERS

Rafael del Pino Moreno, Dancer (Principal)

Choreographer and dancer, better known in the dance world with his own artistic name RAFAEL DEL PINO “KEKO” was born in Cordoba in 1976, is of great temperament and technique, he has developed his career in different companies, with artistic collaborations and obtaining various awards of flamenco. As director and choreographer, his recent acclaimed shows were in Logroño and Alma Andalucía Dance, premiered at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo. He started dancing at the age of five, although by 14 he had not decided to pursue dance professionally and in 1985 entered the School of Dramatic Art and Spanish Dance of Cordoba, where he obtained a degree for Spanish and Classical Ballet Dance. At the same time, he was taught by Mario Maya, Antonio Canales, Javier Latorre and Javier Barón and in 1992 was elected finalist IX Festival Andaluz Young fans Flamenco de la Diputación de Huelva in 97 enrolled in Javier Barón company and a year later won the Juana La Macarrona prize at the XV National Contest of Córdoba. Recently appearances include tours with the company of María Pagés and Vicente Amigo quintet with whom he made several tours of Japan, France, and Italy (1998) and Holland and Belgium (2006). Other tour highlights include projects with Manuel Moreno Maya “El Pele” and Manuel Silveria with which he toured Paris and Strasbourg (1999). With Manolo Franco and “Niño de Pura” performing the show “Compadres” in Spain and Mexico (2000). Julian Estrada with collaborating on the album “Moon Reflection and Sal” and after the show with the same name (1999) is performed. Nelida Tirado with which cooperates during his show at the Soho Joyce Theater in New York in 2007 and 2008. Paco Peña with which collaborates in the spectacle of Misa Flamenca in Poland in 2011 and returning again in 2016 with Niño de Pura and his group to Poland.

Frequent guest artist at many festivals across Spain, highlights of which includes: White Night of Flamenco, 50th Anniversary of National Art Contest Flamenco, Cordoba; Summer Festival of Barcelona Grec., Avignon Festival, Guitar Festival of Cordoba, Cata Flamenca Montilla, Injuve Festival, Festival de Cante Grande de Puente Genil, IV Larachi Flamenca, and Nights Corral del Carbon. Awards and recognitions include: “Juana la Macarrona” in the National Flamenco Art of Córdoba (1998). National Award 2nd Prize in the National Contest of Cante de las Minas (2000). Finalist in the Contest for Young Promises organized by the Bienal de Flamenco Art (2000). 1st Prize Choreography Competition of the Pearl of Cadiz in the form of groups (2001). Finalist in the Contest for Young Promises organized by the Bienal de Flamenco Art (2000). 1st Prize Choreography Competition of the Pearl of Cadiz in the form of groups (2005). Since 2003 he is a professor at the Conservatory of Dance Luis del Rio de Cordoba, specializing in flamenco dancing.

CHURUMBAQUE HIJO, Cantaor 

The singer Carlos Espejo Rafael Moreno, better known in the art world as ‘Churumbaque hijo’, being the son of Manuel Espejo “Churumbaque” was born in Córdoba on 22 April 1971. He acquired his knowledge listening to singers and from the age of 11 he attended gatherings and performed in concerts organized by his family. Since age 19, he has worked in the Tablao El Cardenal and has appeared in various international festivals, including Tijuana in Mexico, El Hatillo in Venezuela, and the Hong Kong Festival. He has shared the stage with singers Luis de Córdoba, “El Cabrero”, José Mercé or ‘The Strip’ and guitarists Nino de Pura and Merengue among others. Churumbaque hijo has recorded an album titled Flamenco Puro and was a finalist in the National Flamenco Art of Cordoba in Cantes Levante. He won the First Prize ‘Tarantas’ XLVII International Festival of Cante de las Minas de La Union (2007 ). Currently, he teaches at the Conservatory of Music in Cordoba. He has toured with the Society of Rosa Montoya, with the work Poeta, of Vicente Amigo, and also with the Society of Eva La Yerbabuena.

PURA NAVARRO ÁLVAREZ “Pura de Pura”, Cantaora

Born into a family in which flamenco has played a leading role. Daughter of renowned guitarist Daniel Navarro “Niño de Pura” and niece of dancer José Joaquín Navarro, Pura spent her entire childhood passively listening to flamenco at festivals, concerts, national and local competitions and performances. At fourteen she began to show interest in flamenco and by high school when she actively pursued learning flamenco singing beginning at the Cristina Heeren Foundation. She studied with prominent professors including José de la Tomasa, Julián Estrada, Virginia Gámez and Jeromo Segura, and began her degree in Journalism at the University of Seville. She is a frequent performer at different venues in both Seville and Huelva (flamenquería, Felahmengu), and a regular at the Palacio Andaluz. Recently selected by AIE for the Flamencos en Ruta cycle, which was held by Spanish universities including Complutense de Madrid, Álcala de Henares, León and Palencia. That same year she participated in the Festival de Jerez, as part of the Show “Eclosión”, by Luisa Palicio, with partners such as Javier Rivera and Vicente Gelo.

She has accompanied Niño de Pura in his shows in recent appearances including Poznan (Poland), the Picasso Museum in Malaga, in Seville in the Central Theater, the Maestranza theater, and at the prestigious International Guitar Festival of Córdoba with his new show “Flamenpura”. Additionally, she performed with her father and Manolo Franco at the last Bienal de Sevilla in the show “Compadres” which took place at the Lope de Vega Theater. Other appearances in major stages include the Gran Teatro de Huelva,  the Góngora theater in Córdoba, the Teatro de Alcalá de Guadaira with prominent figures such as Calixto Sanchez, Pedro el Granaino, Capullo de Jeréz, José Galán, and El Chozas or Manuel Castulo.

Pura has been part of numerous festivals including the Paymogo Festival in homage to José Mercé, Festival of El Rubio (Málaga), in whose edition she coincided with Lebrijano and Tina Pavón. She has accompanied different dancers such as Lalo Tejada, Isabel López, Fernando Jiménez (winner of the Desplante at the Mining Festival in 2018) and guitarists, touring France and Poland. She has participated in recordings directed by guitarists Niño de Pura, Pedro Sierra and Eduardo Rebollar. He has participated in the latest edition of the RTVA Foro Flamenco program with his father Niño de Pura.

On March 12, 2019 she was part of the “Pura Gloria” new CD recording release show by Niño de Pura as a guest artist as part of the Flamenco Viene del Sur cycle program at the Central Theater of Seville.

AGUSTIN HENKE, percussion

Agustin Henke was born in Seville’s flamenca neighbourhood, the legendary Macarena. He learned flamenca percussion at an early age with the prestigious Manueli Soler. Later on, he took part in shows such as “Por aquí te quiero ver” together with bailaores Javier Baron, Israel Galvan or Rafael de Carmen, guitarist Pedro Sierra and the cantaora La Tobala. His most famous shows include “La Tirana” or “Flamenco Republic” by the María Pagés Company. He has recorded with the greatest names in Spanish flamenco, and currently accompanies artists such as El Niño de Pura, J. Antonio Rodríguez, Pedro Sierra, Carmen Linares, Manolo Franco, Cantores de Híspalis, and Juana Amaya. Besides the cajón, his remarkable adaptability endowed him with mastery of the djembe, the Hindu tablas, or the crótalos, while accompanying himself with a half drum kit, congas, pandero, or even tinaja. Today, he is one of the most sought after percussionists in Spain, both on stage and in recording studios.

DAVID GALLOSO, bass

MARIA JOSE ALVAREZ TINOCO, palmas

Maria Jose Alvarez Tinoco born in Huelva, Spain in 1968 and at age 12 began receiving flamenco dance classes with Carmen Giralde and then the prestigious dancer Jose Joaquin. Later she joined the company dancing and as an instructor teaching classes. She has participated in numerous recordings of flamenco and has been touring with “Niño de Pura” for the last 10 years.