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RAFAEL LLOYD IGLESIAS

Flamenco Guitarist Rafael
​Composer / Teacher / Performer


The Musician

Rafael is a performer with over 30 years experience. From the beginning of his career in Spain accompanying dancers and singers he then toured with innovating flamenco group Salpicao for years. Non stop touring for years in Spain, Hungary, France, UK, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Cyprus...Rafael has a track record of festivals, concert halls and venues all over the world.

Examples of what Rafael can offer you:

- flamenco guitar concert live or online
- flamenco composition, recordings, sessions
- musical direction for shows (theatres, public events)
​- collaborations with other professional artistes
- guitar technique workshops for all guitarists, all genres
- lecture: a geographical history of flamenco 
- rhythm classes for dancers
- flamenco guitar lessons from beginner to advanced
- 'Rafael and friends' including dancers, singers and percussion

Rafael also develops  and produces flamenco shows, sourcing flamenco artistes for your venue and events. Please ask for details. 

 Teaching and quotes

Rafael has taught at many educational establishments including the Faculty of Music, Oxford University, Trinity College London, Birmingham Conservatoire, Bath International Guitar Festival amongst others.

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'

Peter H. 'Rafael is a superb and patient guitar tutor from whom I have developed my own playing style and be inspired by flamenco and Spanish culture'.


An inspiration and credits
​​

A few examples of Rafael's work appear in the best selling “Guitar” book by Richard Chapman published by Dorling Kindersley and The New Complete Guitarist.

Rafael was the inspiration for the book ‘Duende’ by Jason Webster who dedicated his acclaimed best seller to Rafael ‘For Rafa, and the duende moments with him that inspired me’. The book is loosely based on some of Rafael’s life and stories living with gypsies which was subsequently revealed in the press.

In appreciation, Amalio Burguet luthier built a signatory model ‘Rafael’ flamenco guitar dedicated to the guitarist for him to perform his concerts and recordings.

He has also been credited with ‘thanks’ on the Radiohead album In Rainbows.

He has also had several personal thesis credits for doctorates at Oxford University.

​Rafael continues to inspire students of all ages to learn flamenco guitar. 
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Picture
Rafael live on stage

​Collaborations
​

Rafael is a versatile session musician and has participated in many projects. He advises on Spanish rhythms, melody and structure and is flexible in his approach. His playing brings the essence of Spain to a piece, with natural flair.

Previous collaborations include:

Recorded with Grace Jones on 'Flores' track together with producer Ivor Guest. Recorded with Ed O'Brien 'EOB' from Radiohead in sessions on a personal project. Featured and interviewed with Tamara Rojo (Artistic Director and lead principal dancer of English National Ballet) for 'Españoles en Inglaterra' at a press conference held by 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.

For Spanish TV Rafael joins his friends Ed O'Brien EOB and Nicholas Hooper (composer Harry Potter films) in a laid back programme on his life as a flamenco guitarist living abroad. Watch here.
Picture
PictureRafael and friends
Musical Director and Producer

Rafael has held rhythm workshops for actors and been musical director in various theatre productions. His knowledge of flamenco and Spanish music is invaluable.

A born performer and creator, he loves the interaction with dancers and actors in achieving their potential.

Examples of previous events and special concerts:

Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca | workshop, production and music.
​
The Royal Garden Party in the presence of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, The South Bank, Festival Internacional de San Isidro Madrid, The Oxford Playhouse, double bill with Tamer Hosny in Doha Qatar, The Holywell Music Room, The Global Peace Conference, Casa Batlló Barcelona.

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, 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.


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