Who is José Luis Montón

Early career

José Luis Montón made his debut as a concert performer in Barcelona in 1989 and during the following two years carried out an extensive international tour as a solo guitarist in the show “La Cumbre flamenca,” visiting various international venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, the ABC Theater in Tokyo, and the Teatro Tapias in Puerto Rico. Simultaneously, he participated in guitar festivals in Houston, Paderborn, Buenos Aires, Sydney, and Utrecht.

He is the solo guitarist in the show “Cumbre flamenca” and performs Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez at the Teatro Principal in Valencia with the Valencia Orchestra conducted by Joan Cerveró, and with the Bratislava Orchestra conducted by David Herrando. He also takes part in the “Les escales de St Nazaire” Festival (France) and the “XI Bienal de Flamenco” in Seville.

“The filter is always sincerity”

Awards for original music for dance

José Luis Montón is responsible for, among others, the musical creation of the show “Flamenco de Cámara” by Mayte Martín and Belén Maya or “La difícil sencillez,” by Rafael Amargo, whose music he composes in collaboration with guitarist and composer Juan Parrilla. Thanks to his versatility, he works together with soloists and large classical ensembles. In 2003 and 2004 he receives awards for best original music for dance at the “Certamen coreográfico” of the Teatro Albéniz (Madrid) and performs Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez at the Teatro Principal in Valencia with the Valencia Orchestra conducted by Joan Cerveró, and with the Bratislava Orchestra conducted by David Herrando. He also takes part in the “Les escales de St Nazaire” Festival (France) and the “XI Bienal de Flamenco” in Seville.

Albums and shows

His career as a performer and composer has taken him across five continents and to major flamenco events such as the Bienal Flamenca de Sevilla, the Bienal de Málaga, the Festival de Guitarra de Córdoba, the Festival de Nîmes, Festival de Jerez, Flamenco On Fire… and to record eight albums of his own alongside great flamenco figures: “Flamenco entre amigos” (1996), “Aroma” (1997). “Sin querer” (2000), “Flamenco Kids” (Cozy Time, 2009), “Flamenco Kids en Quillolandia” (2011) “Flamenco Kids en el Jalintro” (2014) and “Flamenco & Classica” (2021)

In 2012 José Luis Montón recorded his album “Solo Guitarra” with the prestigious ECM label, becoming the first Spanish musician to record as a soloist with this prestigious record company.

From his extensive discography, his albums with classical violinist Ara Malikian stand out: “Manantial” (Warner Music, 1996) and “De la felicidad” (Warner Music, 2005), awarded the Music Award. Also noteworthy are his albums “Flamenco Árabe II” (ARC Music, 2006), together with Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy, “Flamenco Etxea” (Cozy Time, 2011-2023) and “Atlantia Ë Ria” (2019) with Basque accordionist Gorka Hermosa or “Lejos” (2016) with Argentine guitarist Fernando Egozcue, as well as his collaborations with singers such as fado artist Misia, Carmen París, María Berasarte, and Mayte Martín.

His albums feature artists of the caliber of Carmen Linares, Rosalía, Javier Ruibal, or Tomasito, among others. And he has collaborated with prominent artists from the international flamenco scene such as Mayte Martín, Pitingo, Antonio Canales, Alfredo Tejada, Olga Pericet, or the Director of the National Ballet, Antonio Najarro, with whom he participates with his musical compositions in January 2018 in the show “La Romería de los Cornudos,” co-produced by the Juan March Foundation and the National Ballet of Spain. And in Tokyo, in May 2019, with the show “Flamenco On Ice,” together with Spanish world and European ice skating champion, Javier Fernández. In January 2020, and again with Antonio Najarro, he composes the music for the show “Zincalí,” produced by the historic Madrid flamenco tablao “El Corral de la Morería.” And in January 2024 he participates in “La argentina en París,” co-produced by the Juan March Foundation and the Palau de L’Arts in Valencia. In November of this same year he premiered “Romance Sonámbulo,” Antonio Najarro’s latest show, for which he has composed the music.

Theater productions

His text-based theater productions accompanied by his guitar have achieved unanimous critical acclaim. In June 2017 he premiered the show “Los amores oscuros” at the Teatro Español in Madrid, together with actor Antonio Campos and singer Clara Montes. In 2018, and again with Antonio Campos, and under the direction of Lluis Elias, he premiered “El Lazarillo de Tormes,” a text and music theater work, with great public and critical success, which earned him a nomination for the Max Theater Awards. In June 2019 he premiered “El Universo de Lorca” in New York, together with Antonio Campos, and in July 2020, again with this award-winning actor, “La Celestina” premiered.

His music in films

He has participated in the soundtracks of films such as “Ocho Apellidos Catalanes,” “El niño,” or “El hombre que mató a Don Quijote” by Terry Gilliam, nominated for best original song at the 2019 Goya Awards.

Flamenco & Classica

In 2021 he released his latest album “Flamenco & Classica,” ten original tracks that emerge as flamenco arrangements of compositions with their own name in the history of classical music. Once again, and with masterful skill, Maestro Montón immerses himself in a journey to the essence of flamenco, demonstrating his great ability to dialogue with other musical styles as in this new album, in which he pays his personal tribute to Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, or Brahms. On this journey he is accompanied by great voices of flamenco, as well as from other disciplines, with lyrics composed by Montón himself based on ten essential classical pieces sung on his album by Miguel Poveda, Pitingo, Roko, Sandra Carrasco, María Toledo, Rocío Márquez, Sheila Blanco, and Rosario “La Tremendita.”

Most recent

In 2022 he released his album “Canciones al oído” together with singer Sandra Carrasco and in 2023 he launched his show “Aflamenkao,” together with singer Roko.

In February 2024 he premiered his show “Musas de Machado” in Seville, a journey through the life and work of the poet.