Sergio Monroy
Pianist


"The essence of Flamenco and Jazz go hand in hand."
Diario De Cadiz, Jun 30, 2004 Gustavo Torres

"Incredible ... amazing dynamics and drama."
Indepenent on Sunday, (Bristol, England) 2006


"Imagine the lyrical pianism of Keith Jarrett or Chick Corea combined with the ecstatic hand-claps and vocal imprecations of flamenco and you are some way to understanding the incredible music of the 26 year-old Cadiz-born virtuoso Sergio Monroy and his musicians." St.Georges Bristol (England) May 2006

"In contrast to the staccato guitar technique usually associated with flamenco, he has an easy, fluid style that produces a softer, jazzier tone without losing the soulful spirit with which the genre is associated."
Fly magazine, 1 May 2006 (England), Conon Murphy




FLAMENCO PIANO


Listen to Sergio Monroy's Flamenco Piano
Yanimá [fiesta por bulería]
Cuando Diga Jazz [tangos]
De Garabato [tanguillo]


The flamenco piano of Sergio Monroy pushes the boundaries of contemporary Flamenco, synthesizing it with the music that is made in the south of Andalusia (Arabian-Andalusi) with jazz, producing an enlightened and fresh modern global fusion that is well rooted in its ancestral frameworks. Sergio's vanguard style is unique among the sounds of what is now being described as “New Flamenca”.

Born in 1980 in Cadiz (province of Andalucia Spain) Sergio Monroy began playing the piano at the age of 12. Growing up in what is referred to as "the land of sonets and poets" and one of the birthplaces of Flamenco and of it most famous icons including Camaron de la Isla, Paco de Lucia, Carles Benevente, Sara Baras, Jose Merce etc., its not surprising. Cadiz, historically recognized as the "oldest city in the occidental world" with 3000 years of civilization, houses the known "Manuel de Falla" Conservatory of music which at 16 years old Sergio entered studying classical piano.

Combining his enate love and knowlege of flamenco with his classical training, he began his career by acompanying acclaimed Flamenco "cantaores" (flamenco singers) such as Chano Lobato, Felipe Escapachini, Juan Villar, and Rancapino amoung others, who welcomed the reincorporation of the piano in their shows, an instrument very present in the beginnings of flamenco.

Sergio emerges alongside a new generation of young virtuosos who bring to flamenco a breath of fresh air, like the sounds of Juan Diego Mateos, David Palomar, Juan Villar JR, Raúl Gálvez, Román Vincente, or Andrés Martinez. At the same time classically trained jazz musicians, who were a bit older and had a little more experience began to share projects, concerts and more than anything, music with this new generation of flamenco artists. The forefathers of this newly born fusion, also all of whom are from Cadiz, include Chano Dominguez (Calle 54), Javier Rubial, Alfonso Gamaza and Pedro Cortejosa. Here, together, they initiated a fusion between the two styles, and planted the seeds for what would become known as the flamenco of the 21st century. 

At this point Sergio decided to go to Madrid to study Flamenco Piano with the great flamenco piano Maestro Arturo Pavón and Maestro D. Antonio Escobar Perera.  In 1997 he gave his first solo concert in his hometown of Cadiz for the festivities of Saint Carmen.  He continued accompanying "cantadores" and in 2000 he performed with the famous Catalunian Miguel Poveda in the IV International Festival of Xativa (Valencia, Spain). This same year he participated on the recording of "La Cava, Jovenes Flamencos de Cadiz" (The Cave. Young Flamenco Artists from Cadiz). 

In 2003 Sergio recorded his first disc entitled “Monroy” with the collaboration of the famed forefathers of Flamenco Jazz Raúl Gálvez, Javier Ruibal, Miguel Poveda and Alfonso Gamaza. His disk won second place in category of “Best Instrumental Flamenco Disk” in the 2004 National Critics Awards.

Sergio has worked as composer and pianist for the internationally renowned dance companies of Javier de Latorre and Maria Serrano, travelling with them on their world tours in Germany, Austria, Holland Switzerland, England, Malaysia and Indonesia.  He has played as a soloist in many other festivals in Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, most recently in the 2005 Jazz Festival in Arnhem, Holland.

Sergio, now 26 years old, is accompanied by his quintet all of whom are from Cadiz and around the same age. The presence of such young virtuosos playing together on stage has a great impact on audiences, awed at the indisputable talent of these young musicians.

For 2006 Sergio, as a soloist, has tours booked in Germany, Ingland and Ireland and will be acompaning the acclaimed "bailaor" (Flamenco dancer) Andrés Marin on his European tour.


More information ... download Sergio Monroy's dossier

www.sergiomonroy.com

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