PIANIST, COMPOSER CHANO DOMINGUEZ

Latin jazz pianist CHANO DOMINGUEZ makes post-bop, fusion, and flamenco-influenced music that often references his Andalusian roots. Born in Cadiz in 1960, Dominguez started playing flamenco guitar around age eight before moving on to the piano. In his twenties, he formed the progressive Latin rock ensemble CAI, who released three albums for CBS. After the group disbanded in 1981, Dominguez pursued a solo career. He quickly garnered several awards for his innovative mix of flamenco and jazz, including First Prize in the National Jazz Competition for Young Interpreters in 1992. A year later, he released his debut solo album, Chano, and relocated to New York City. Several more well-received albums followed, including 1995’s Paco de Lucia-themed 10 de Paco and 1997’s En Directo.

The 2000s saw Dominguez release a steady stream of forward-thinking, cross-cultural albums, including 2001’s I Si!, 2002’s Hecho a Mano, 2006’s Acercate Mas, and 2007’s New Flamenco Sound. Also in 2007, he appeared alongside saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera in the concert film Quartier Latin. A year later, he delivered Cuentos, del Mundo.

In 2010, Dominguez earned a Latin Grammy Award nomination for his album Piano Ibérico. Two years later, he returned with Flamenco Sketches, a re-visioning of Miles Davis‘ Kind of Blue. He then teamed with contemporary flamenco guitarist Niño Josele for Chano & Josele. In 2017, he delivered the intimate solo piano album Over the Rainbow, recorded live at Barcelona’s Palau Falguera.

SOURCE: All Music Guide