I am very grateful for the so much love everybody shared while working with me on this new
album, and for how I fully enjoyed such art around me. I want to thank each and every one of
you; God gives you all light in this life and next one... I send my warmest hug to everyone...
Blas Córdoba “El Kejio”
I think Blas Córdoba is one of those singers from 21st Century who better understood the
development that flamenco has had in the last decades, establishing flamenco singing within so
different musical environments such as jazz trio, big band or grand orchestra. This record
contains some of his magnificent compositions wrapped in diverse musical situations. Hope
you will enjoy him as much as I did in the making.
Chano Domínguez
BLAS CÓRDOBA ‘el Kejío’
Blas Córdoba is a self-taught flamenco singer who
displays an original style of his own very influenced by
flamenco masters such as Manolo Caracol, Antonio
Mairena and specially Camarón de la Isla.
He started out in 1998 and, after releasing his debut
album “Viejos Maestros”, he played at Grec Festival in
Barcelona supported by Taller de Músics.
Blas is a researcher of the different styles and genres in
flamenco. He is interested in its origin and experiment
and use new musical resources to create one of the best
proposal within innovative flamenco singing.
His voice (his “kejío”) stands out by a natural timbre wealth, technique and an unquestionable
soul (“duende”). He displays such a great sensitivity and charm in his live shows that he makes
the audience accomplice straight away.
“KEJÍO” also demonstrates a personal creativity in writing his own material, songs of great
beauty full of character, temperament and poetry.
His voice has merged with Bulgarian and flamenco singers at Barcelona cathedral conducted by
Enrique Morente and arranged by Joan Albert Amargós.
Discovered by Chano Domínguez, the Cadiz-born pianist invited him to participate on his
album “Imán” (Nuba Records, 2000). Shortly after, he crossed the Atlantic with Chano to take
part in “Calle 54” film directed by Fernando Trueba.
KEJÍO has accompanied Chano on tour since then. They have played at the best jazz festivals
around the world and were invited by important radio and TV programs.
They opened at 30 Nits de Sabadell Festival with a piano and singing concert. In 2000 KEJÍO
became a member of the line-up of flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo, with whom he works
until 2007 and later on participates as guest vocalist on the album “Paseo de Gracia” (Sony,
2009).
He has also worked with Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center; with Jack DeJohnette, with
WDR Big Band Köln Orchestra; with Perico Sambeat, and participated at Carlos Saura’s
theatrical play “Flamenco Hoy”.
BLAS CÓRDOBA has been the usual flamenco singer on every Chano Domínguez recordings,
from “Imán” up to “Piano Ibérico” (Blue Note, 2010).
CHANO DOMÍNGUEZ
Chano Domínguez is one of the most celebrated jazz
musicians "recruited" by flamenco. Although Chano had
already learned flamenco –the first instrument he learned to
play, by ear, was the guitar- he also ventured into rock with
his keyboard. Before he descended fully onto the flamenco
scene with his “Chano Domínguez Trío”, he had already
worked with renowned artists such as Pepe de Lucía, Potito
and Juan Manuel Cañizares. Chano Domínguez has achieved
an unusual integration between rhythms and languages of
jazz and flamenco. He plays tangos, tanguillos, alegrías,
compás de bulerías, fandangos and soleás on his piano with a
traditional jazz structure. Nowadays Chano Domínguez is
one of the most demanded musicians on the entire Spanish
music scene, in any musical genres. He has worked with an
extensive range of artists including Enrique Morente, Estrella
Morente, Martirio, Marta Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ana Belén, Jorge Pardo, Carles Benavent,
Paco de Lucía, Joe Lovano, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette and Wynton Marsalis with the
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
He has recorded several records such as: Chano (Nuba 1993), 10 de Paco ( Nuevos Medios
1994), Hecho a Mano (Nuba 1996), New Flamenco Sound (Verve 2007), Piano Ibérico (Blue
Note 2010) or his Grammy nominée "Flamenco Scketches" (Blue Note 2011).
His music has been played by many differents ensembles and orchestras such as: the Orquesta
Nacional de España, WDR Big band, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra among others.
He is actually touring worldwide with flamenco guitar Niño Josele with whom has released
“Chano & Josele” (Calle 54 Records 2014).