about Emilio Maya
- Emilio Maya was born in the Granada village of Molvízar to a Gypsy family. At the age of 8 years he began to play guitar and at 12 he won first place at the Flamenco festival in Lanjarón, where he was the youngest guitarist. In 1980 he began to play in Flamenco clubs throughout Andalusia, accompanying various flamenco dancers and singers.
- In 1984 Emilio moved to Seville, and joined the company of Curro Vélez in El Arenal, sharing the stage with artists such as Carmen Montoya, Lalo Tejada, El Lele, Juan Manuel Flores, El Toro.
- In 1987, Emilio collaborated with the celebrated jazz percussionist Frank Holder, which led him to play alongside the group Fairport Convention at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Emilio also collaborated with the director Manfred Wafender, for his film about the music of Miles Davis, for the BBC.
- In 1990, Emilio formed his own group 'Grupo Maya', which performed at the Teatro Isabel La Católica in Granada alongside such great artists as José Mercé, Aurora Vargas, Juan Habichuela, etc. From this moment on he began to tour more and more outside of Spain, performing with Nono García in France, Belgium and Holland, and becoming known as one of the most respected flamenco guitarists of Andalusia, collaborating not only with flamenco artists but many other styles of music, Arabic, Jazz, classical.
- In 1997 he accompanied the great flamenco artist Enrique Morente to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Federico García Lorca. Meanwhile his own group 'Grupo Maya' was also performing at the International Festival of Music and dance in Granada.
- Other collaborations include accompanying the flamenco singers: la Nitra, Chonchi Heredia, Estrella Morente, Marina Heredia, and dancers: Juan Ramírez, Juan Andrés Maya, Ana Calí y Fuensanta La Moneta. Abroad he has performed in Brazil with the dancers Antonio Canales and Juan de Juan on their 2001 tour.
- Demonstrating a flair for music outside of flamenco he has worked with the jazz artists Jorge Pardo, the percussionist Rubén Dantas, la Orquesta Andalusí de Tetuán from Morocco and the Orquesta Andalusí from Tangiers, and performed at the Institute of Arab Studies in Paris with whose collaboration he made the CD "Al Kantara".
- In 2003 Emilio performed at the Flamenco Fería in Sevilla and the Flamenco Festival in Granada with the group 'Los Faraones' which included several singers from his own group, Victor El Charico, Antonio Campos and Juan Angel ‘El Tirado’ who would go on to colloborate with him on his album which he began recording that year. His producer Harold Burgon had already worked with such flamenco artists as Enrique Morente and his daughter Estrella with whom he recorded tracks for her albums 'Mi cante y un Poema' and 'Calle del Agua'. Harold Burgon had also produced the CD 'Cale Calé’ (Gypsy Rhythms) with both Emilio Maya and Enrique Morente as guest artists. It went on to win the National Critics Award for best flamenco percussion album 2002.
- Alma 100 Julio/Agosto 2004 Javier Primo
"The Granada guitarrist Emilio Maya decided to record his first album after a long career accompanying singers (Enrique and Estrella Morente, Carmen Liñares) and dance (Canales and Juan Andrés Maya). The result is eight of his own compositions cleanly and eloquently executed, especially my favourites, the evocative minera and the Rondeña where he is accompanied by cello. These tracks are the most pure guitar on the recording, along with the Zapateado, accompanied by the dance of Ana Calí, and the Bulería, 'La Fuente'. In the Rumba, the Tangos, the Alegrias and final Bulería he is accompanied by bass guitar and the singing of his fellow Granadinos among them Marina Heredía, her father 'El Parrón', El Tirado and El Charico. An honest and interesting disc, an independant production that shows the efficient production of Harold Burgon".
- Jorge Fernandéz Bustós Granada Hoy 29/11/04 "One of the great guitarrists from Granada"
- Norberto Torres Cortes El Olivo Enero 2005 "Temple is a dignified and sincere recording, where Emilio Maya presents his unique style of playing and his own sound, crystal clear arpeggios, strong rasgueados, great Gypsy flamenco of the Sacromonte...... Temple expreses without fail the relaxed yet fiery flamenco style of Emilio Maya, with the unmistakable print of flamenco in Granada today."
- Juan Vergillo, Diario de Sevilla 26/10/04 " A solid, serene style but also modern flamenco.... played not only with ability but also with conviction. In the 'minera' which gives the album its title, he demonstrates his excellent technique and his love for the classic fine tailored melody".
- Juan Pinilla. La Opinón de Granada "Emilio Maya is one of the top guitar accompanists in flamenco today."
- Luis Fernandéz www.jondaweb.com "The first time I heard Emilo play I was fascinated. It was at the National Flamenco Congress in Córdoba and he played a 'rondeña' de solista. Una rondeña muy sencilla, recuerdo, tocando con mucho gusto y un sonido precioso sin saturar la guitarra. No hay más que decir, a escucharlo inmediatamente."
- Jorge Fernandéz Bustós Granada Hoy 13/11/04 "This is his first recording as a soloist, but his wealth of knowledge and experience means that he has created a CD of the highest standard.... the Minera that gives the disc its name 'Temple', along with the zapateado Tacones De Plata, are simply delicious."
- In August 2004 Emilio Maya performed at the Lewes Guitar festival alongside the dancer Ana Calí and the musicians who had recorded his CD 'Temple'. Emilio also performed at the Autumn Festival of Flamenco in Granada both as a soloist and with the Morrocan group 'Chekara', Orquestra Andalusi. He also appeared at the Granada Festival of Jazz, playing with jazz trumpeter David Defries.
- In January 2005 he returned to the UK, performing with his group at Nottingham Arts Centre and Brighton's Komedia, selling out all three performances. In the summer of 2005 he joined Mario Maya's company for their sell-out season at the Alhambra with 'Amargo'.
- 2006 saw Emilio performing in Korea with 'Tres Guitaristas de Granada'. He also performed in Mexico as a solo guitarist and took his group 'Maya' to Slovakia and Belgium.
- In 2007 alongside the acclaimed dancer Juan Andrés Maya and his dance company performing in the shows 'Furia Maya', 'Pasión' and 'Renacimiento'.
- Plans for 2008 include performances in Paris in January and February, recording his second album with Andalamusica and a return trip to Slovakia.
