Rafael's Projects
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​A new direction

Going deaf (see below), having recovered his hearing and with the effect that had on his professional life, Rafael is back with new compositions, new ideas and new energy to move forward. Rafael, together with his lifelong journey as a flamenco is returning to his teenage passion of electronic music of the 'new romantic' era. Incorporating digital and analogue synthesizers but always respectful of the traditions, structures and rhythms of flamenco. He is challenging this ancient art form, finding a new way for him and flamenco, taking his music and the traditional art of flamenco in an exciting direction - Electro Flamenco

Background
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Born to Anglo Spanish parents, Rafael grew up in Spain, educated at a British school in Madrid. He is bilingual (he also speaks fluent French, Italian), bicultural and understands the demands, work environments and ethics necessary to put any musical project together in whatever country. It puts him in a unique position to be able to share the authenticity of flamenco and able to see it from his unique perspective. Rafael is different to other flamenco guitarists, he is much more than just a guitarist. He is a musician able to view things from the outside and put his own stamp and individuality in to his own music.

Rafael is a performer with almost 40 years experience. From the beginning of his career in Spain accompanying dancers and singers he then toured with innovating flamenco group Salpicao. From then he toured for years in Spain, Hungary, France, UK, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Cyprus etc. He has performed at festivals, concert halls and venues all over the world from the Southbank Centre to the Festival de San Isidro de Madrid.

​​Hearing and deafness - A new musical life

Rafael was diagnosed with Otosclerosis. This is a rare condition that causes progressive hearing loss. Having lost most of his hearing in both ears, Rafael discovered a ground breaking operation that was to change his life. Faced with lifelong deafness, having retired from performing and barely being able to communicate, Rafael was operated on both ears at The Royal ENT Hospital in London. The procedure called a 'stapedectomy' involves replacing the stapes (the smallest bone in the body) with a prosthetic implant. For Rafael, this was life changing. He describes recovering his hearing loss  as 'it was like permanently being in a dark room and suddenly having a light switched on'. An emotional journey that for sure has made his love for music and sound even greater than before. This is the same rare condition that Beethoven had, though unfortunately Beethoven didn't have access to the same technology. Rafael was the first flamenco guitarist to use CIEMs (custom in ear monitors) to enable him to hear everything he needs in a live situation on stage.

Influences
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Rafael's music is influenced by many factors. Sources of inspiration such as Paco de Lucia, Kraftwerk, Bach or from Batak folk music of northern Sumatra to Led Zeppelin and Manuel de Falla continue to excite him on a daily basis. His influences are so diverse and true to a person that has not only grown up in two countries but has travelled most of the world too. Rafael finds common ground and inspiration in all of these musical cultures but also in people or architecture. Mezquita, one of Rafael's first compositions is based on the building of the same name in Córdoba, his mother's birthplace. A unique building built originally as a mosque but once the Catholic Kings reconquered Spain, a Christian altar was erected in the middle. Rafael's music captures the essence of this in its harmony and rhythm. For Rafael, a piece of music is not simply a series of notes one after another. Each composition has a story to it, a mood and a place. That is what separates Rafael from other flamenco musicians perhaps, his individuality, composition and mood.

Teaching and quotes
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Rafael has taught at many educational establishments including the Faculty of Music, Oxford University, Trinity College London, Birmingham Conservatoire, Bath International Guitar Festival and currently teaches the culture and history of flamenco at the Université de Brest Occidentale in Brest, France.
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Rose Augustine (Augustine Strings), '...in all the years I have been going to flamenco workshops, this is the first time I have really learnt something, thank you!'
Ivor Mairantz (guitarist and composer), 'I have seen many famous guitarists in my life and you should be earning a lot more than them'
El Pais (newspaper, Spain) 'Rafael plays with the soul of a gypsy'

An article above from Acoustic magazine with an interview with Rafael and the celebrated guitarist Tomatito.

In the flamenco world

Rafael has worked with countless artistes in his own flamenco world from the renowned flamenco singer Rafael de Utrera and the flautist Domingo Patricio (who both were part of the Paco de Lucia Sextet on tour) to the Spanish National award winning dancers and choreographers, Estevez | Paňos y cia dance company. As a young man in Spain at the beginning of his career, he accompanied and lived with the award winning gypsy flamenco singer Juan Castro 'Peti' for many years who is the older brother of the celebrated Parrita, flamenco royalty.

Composing, film and TV

Rafael has composed music and worked closely with BAFTA award winning producers for documentaries, films and commissions and worked and delivered pieces for television, film and adverts for or with Michael Portillo BBC2 Natural World programme on Spain, Alan Whicker Travelocity, Sky Mad Dogs series with composer Martin Phipps (composer of the latest Napoleon film), Sherlock Holmes with Patrick Gowers and the Royal Philharmonic, a Christmas album with producer Dru Masters and band Aliqua, recording with Magnus Fiennes for the animated series Freefonix. Peter Gabriel and Solid State Logic commissioned a composition called 'Duende' together with a performance in Germany for their new rack mount processor unit of the same name. Rafael has also appeared in person on Midsomer Murders, RIK1, RTVE, Oxford Channel and in various interviews and performances.

Collaborations

Rafael has recorded with Grace Jones on the 'Flores' track together with producer Ivor Guest. He recorded with Ed O'Brien 'EOB' from Radiohead in sessions on a personal project. Featured and interviewed with Tamara Rojo (Artistic Director, San Francisco Ballet) for 'Españoles en Inglaterra' at the Instituto Cervantes with whom he collaborated closely in a series of concerts. Rafael toured in a production of Bizet's Carmen opera as a solo guitarist with members of the Royal Opera House singers. Some of Rafael's compositions appear in the book  “Guitar”  by Richard Chapman, published by Dorling Kindersley and The New Complete Guitarist. Rafael inspired the book “Duende” by Jason Webster who dedicated his work to him, which became a bestseller. “For Rafa, and the duende moments spent with him that inspired me.” The book is more or less based on part of Rafael's life and on stories he lived with gypsies, subsequently revealed in the press. In gratitude, the Spanish luthier Amalio Burguet made a signature guitar - the “Rafael” flamenco guitar - dedicated to the musician to enable him to perform his concerts and recordings. He was also credited 'with thanks on Radiohead's album In Rainbows.

For Spanish TV, Rafael joined his friends Ed O'Brien EOB and the composer of two Harry Potter films composer Nicholas Hooper in a laid back programme on his life as a flamenco guitarist living abroad. See below.