JUAN MONEO
Grandson of "Tío Manuel Jero", and nephew of
Manuel Moneo and Juan Moneo " El Torta", Juan Moneo belongs to one of
the most important singing families which possesses the secret of the "soníos
negros" or black sounds of Jerez' gypsy cante from the "Plazuela"
neighborhood.
Juan Moneo started out playing guitar under the guidance of his
father Luis Moneo. His enthusiasm and basic guitar instincts come from his mother's
side of the family, the "Jeros". His uncles Pedro Carrasco "Niño
Jero" and Antonio Jero set this young man on the path of the guitar-players
of Jerez, including the way of accompanying the cante and the necessary intensity
for accompanying dance.
He studied for three years with the maestro Manuel Lozano "El
Carbonero". After this time, under the direction of guitarist Juan Parrilla
he debuted in "El Lagar de Tío Parrilla" which served as an artistic
jumping-off point, and he began his journey through flamenco 'cuadros' accompanying
singers and dancers.
Noteworthy were his performances at flamenco festivals such as
Jerez' Festival de la Bulería, the Festival del Cante de las Minas de la
Unión, the Festival Flamenco Caja Madrid at the Teatro Albéniz,
"Noche Flamenca" at Madrid's Teatro de La Zarzuela, Seville's Bienal
and his participation in the Festival de la Guitarra de La Habana in Cuba.
In November of 2001 he was invited by Antonio el Pipa to join
the American production "Gypsy Caravan II" of New York's World Music
Institute with a two-month tour through more than twenty different states.
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