Enrique Heredia «Negri»
Enrique Heredia "Negri" is heir to flamenco music and tradition, belonging to the fourth
generation of one of the most important gypsy families for the development of flamenco music
and art, in which the great master Sabicas, the visionary of flamenco Ray Heredia and the great
cantaora Estrella Morente stand out.
He was always a restless artist, one of the first flamenco percussionists who began to play the
“cajón” and adapt this instrument to what is known today as the "cajón flamenco".
With barely 13 years old he joined Enrique Morente's band, collaborating closely with the
cantaor, in his concerts and in his discography. He was producer of Morente’s album Lorca
(Virgin 1998) and participated actively in all his albums, including Omega, being the trusted
man of the brilliant Andalusian artist.
Enrique Heredia Negri, icon of the "Jóvenes Flamencos" and authentic referent of a musical
movement that in Spain marked a generation in the 90's when he was vocalist and leader of the
group "La Barbería del Sur", a fundamental group for New Flamenco, opening new paths in a
new way of singing, composing and producing.
He was member of the group of the music legend -Paco de Lucía- being cantaor and guitarist of
the album and the tour "Cositas buenas". Paco defined Negri as "the musician of musicians".
In 1998 he collaborated on Diego El Cigala's first album "Undebel" as a performer, author and
producer. In 2000 he collaborated with Manzanita in his live album interpreting the song
"Verde".
In 2001 he sang in French "La Boheme" on the album "Chanson Flamenca", being personally
congratulated by Charles Aznavour; and collaborated on the tribute album to Antonio Flores
"Cosas Tuyas" interpreting the song "Sabor, Sabor" along with a Big Band.
In 2002 he collaborated in the first album "Duets" of Armando Manzanero; awarded, that year,
in the Latin Grammys.
On 2003 he collaborated with Amnesty International on a record commemorating the 25th
anniversary of its presence in Spain, performing the tango "Uno" with the accompaniment of the
virtuoso pianist from Cadiz Chano Domínguez.
As a soloist Negri decides, in his artistic quest, to sing to the great Spanish-American
composers. In 2005 he edited "El último beso", a tribute to Agustín Lara, in a Jazz-Flamenco
musical concept and atmosphere; an album that was especially successful in Mexico, where he
toured the whole country. He also took a step forward with this new sound that served as
inspiration for many other artists and albums that came out later with this musical concept.
In 2010 he produced "Habaneras Flamencas" for the Spanish Television, a live concert that was
later released on DVD, where he rescued a repertoire more than a century old. For this work he
had the collaboration of great Latin-Jazz musicians such as Jerry González and Cuban bassist
and singer Alaín Pérez, performing in the most prestigious jazz festivals in Europe, with this
album.
That same year he was invited by Colombian singer Shakira to sing with her at the Rock in Rio
Festival in Madrid in front of more than 90,000 people. And the Brazilian singer Djavan
included in his album "Aria" the song "La noche", composed by Enrique Heredia.
In 2011, Negri collaborated as artist and musical producer of the album "México Flamenco",
nominated for the Latin Grammys that same year, where he performs the famous ranchera "Si
nos dejan" and produced the mythical salsa artist Oscar de Leon on the song "El último trago".
In 2012 he recorded the album "Mano a mano: A Manzanero", songs composed for Negri by the
mythical Mexican author; in addition to being a duet album where you can hear voices such as
Manzanero himself, Miguel Poveda, Estrella Morente, Bebe, Dani Martín, El Langui, Zenet,
Sole Giménez, Coque Malla, Moncho, Isaac Delgado and musicians like Jerry González, Niño
Josele, Raimundo Amador, Jorge Pardo, and Farruquito. "Mano a mano" is an exemplary work,
for many the best album of 2012, an album that marks a before and after in the career of Enrique
Heredia Negri.
In 2012 he sang in "De Purísima y Oro", an album with which flamenco artists pay tribute to
Joaquín Sabina. He also sings in the song "5 Segundos", produced by Paco Ortega and
Alejandro Sanz
In 2013 he participated as a special guest in the European tour of the French group Gipsy Kings.
In 2014 he collaborated as author and interpreter in the album "Presente Continuo" of the
Venezuelan group GUACO with his song "Tú eres para mí"; Nominee for the Latin Grammys
and the American Billboards.
At Christmas 2016 "MY TIME" is released. A long-awaited album in musical environments
around the world. It is the first solo album in which he is the author of all the songs, recovering
that original and recognizable sound of Enrique Heredia "Negri". Produced by himself and Fran
Gude as a sound engineer. Argentine artist Andrés Calamaro, Cuban rap group Orishas, Sandra
Carrasco, Jorge Pardo and Los Cherokee took part.
In January 2017 he participated in the United Nations Peace Concert in El Salvador with such
important artists as Al Di Meola, Jon Secada, Christopher Cross or Gilberto Santa Rosa. In the
same year he participated in the tribute album to Ray Heredia in the song "Quien no corre
Vuela" with Alba Molina, Alejandro Sanz, Vestusta Morla or Rubén Blades among others.
In April 2018 he was awarded at the Independent Music Awards in Los Angeles (USA) to the
best Latin pop song for "Alegría de Vivir", included in the album "MI TIEMPO".
Together with Javier Limón, he produced the promising album "Fragua Futura". And together
with Juan José Suarez Paquete the albums of Ramón el Portugués and Potito.
«Bolero solo»
After many collaborations and mutual admirations, Negri and Pepe Rivero started working
almost a year ago on a common project, a hand to hand that has the bolero as its protagonist.
Negri, who since his origins in "La Barbería del Sur" has ventured into pop, Cuban music or
jazz, wished since "El último beso" (the tribute to Agustín Lara that took him on several tours in
Mexico), to complete his love for the genre, with a Cuban who had that music in his blood.
Pepe Rivero, born in Manzanillo, pianist of Celia Cruz, Paquito D'Rivera, Diego "El Cigala" or
Pasión Vega, had already recorded and edited with Deutsche Grammophon "Los boleros de
Chopin", a repertoire that Paquito D'Rivera incorporated into his 2015 Grammy "Jazz meets
the Classic".
It was a matter of time to gather them so that we can enjoy today these boleros, which
sometimes come from Tango, Chachachá, Son, Malagueñas or Rancheras. Some of the singers
and musicians that both Negri and Pepe have frequented in their different musical adventures
have been invited to such a musical banquet.
Armando Manzanero, who since "El último beso" is Negri's friend and mentor, has written
especially "Esta vez que te vas" for the project. Before returning to New York, Chano
Dominguez put his piano in "Uno". Chabuco attacks "Mi amor fugaz" one of Benny More's
unforgettable songs and something between the ballenato and the bachata has crept into the
album. The trumpet Manuel Machado, companion in innumerable projects of Pepe, leaves us
his elegant phrasing in "Toda una vida". Saxophonist Ed Calle transports us to the sound of
the Miami jazz clubs where he lives. Finally Enrique wanted to pay a special tribute to Jerry
Gonzalez with whom he worked on the album "Habanera Flamenca", his is the trumpet that
introduces "Bolero Puro". In Memoriam
As a prologue to what will be the opening tour, Pepe has recorded "Tristeza" by Pepe Sánchez,
the founding theme of the genre (1883), in which we can admire the virtuosity of a musician
who is essential to the international jazz scene.
The bolero has worn so many musical costumes, it has been claimed from so many origins, that
it is a blessing that a century and a half later, the genre is naked and a piano and a voice are
enough to show it in all its beauty.
In its golden years, between the 40s and 70s of the last century, the Cuban bolero was the
romantic music per excellence. Before it had passed through Yucatan and the Mexicans had
made it theirs, but there is no musical trend however recent it may be, from World music to
Reggaeton, that does not surrender to that binary beat and to that moderate tempo.
The bolero has come to the rescue of careers such as Omara Portuondo or Luis Miguel.
Recently, composers such as Descemer Bueno or Raúl Paz have incorporated it into their
repertoire, but the genre contaminates any music that comes close to it, that is why this album
sounds like BOLERO SOLO.
Jose Luis Rupérez. Producer.