MUSIC Guitar virtuoso Eduardo Niebla to play Castlebar

The Linenhall hosts guitar royalty


Flamenco-jazz virtuoso Eduardo Niebla, hailed as one of the world’s great guitarists by critics and musicians alike, will perform in The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on Monday, February 1, at 8pm. Niebla takes flamenco jazz to new heights, merging it with Latin, Classical, Arabic and Indian influences to create a sound that has captivated audiences all over the world.
Although crowned ‘the king of Latin guitar’ by Time Out magazine, Niebla’s beginnings were humble.
He was born in Tangiers, northern Morocco, to Andalucian parents in 1955. He was the seventh child of a seventh child (make of that what you will!). In 1960, after political tensions, his family became refugees and moved to Cataluña, Spain, where Niebla grew up.
His musical career, which began with the accordion at the age of five, took flight when his older brother, Antonio, gave him his first guitar when he was just eight years old. During his teenage years, his love of guitar continued to grow, and he played with several bands, including Los Helios, The Guevara Group and Metafora, touring and playing at festivals throughout northern Spain.   
In 1973, at the age of 18, he set up the cult symphonic-rock band Atila. This thrust Niebla into the public eye, where he was rated alongside Paco de Lucia as one of the top guitarists in the Hispanic Peninsula.
Atila were voted one of the best groups of 1974-75 by both the Spanish public and music critics. They produced three hugely successful albums – ‘The Beginning of the End’, ‘Intentions’ and ‘Reviure’ – albums that are now considered collectors’ items, reportedly fetching up to €800.
In 1975, Niebla moved to Paris, where he took part in several exhibitions of conceptual art with the painter Jaume Xifra. Three years later, he went to London, initially as a stepping stone to America, but he never left. He has since come to be regarded as one of the outstanding guitarists of his generation.
He has collaborated with many top artists, including pop stars George Michael and Craig David, Nishat Khan (sitar player), Adel Salameh (Palestinian oud player), Lol Coxhill (saxophonist in the ‘free jazz’ tradition) Deepak Ram (bamboo-flute player), Paban Das Baul (gypsy singer and percussionist) and Ben Watkins (composer of the music for the Matrix films). 
The Linenhall performance is the third in an eleven-date tour of Ireland – and the only one of those dates in the west. Niebla’s audience will be treated to new compositions from his forthcoming album (his 23rd!), together with a broad sampling of music from his 30-year career.
For anyone who appreciates intricate, passionate flamenco jazz played with true technical mastery, this concert is not to be missed.
For more details or to book tickets, contact The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, on 094 9023733.

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