José Ignacio Franco was born in Jerez de la Frontera in 1978. At a young age, he began his guitar studies at the prestigious school led by accredited teachers José Luis Balao and Manuel Lozano "El Carbonero," from which many of the best guitarists from Jerez currently hail.
He completed his training, particularly in accompanying singing, at Domingo Rosado's school, where he made his first public appearances at flamenco clubs in the province of Cádiz and some festivals.
His playing adheres to the so-called Jerez school, which is rich in traditional nuances, very rhythmic, and with special attention to singing. This earned him the attention of some figures from the Jerez singing scene, such as Miguel Flores Quirós "Capullo de Jerez," who took him on several national tours, among others. For several years now, he has been the second guitarist for the prestigious guitarist Paco Cerero, with whom he has given concerts throughout Europe and Latin America, also completing his training as a soloist.
Recently, he was approached by Luis "El Zambo," who recognizes the depth of his playing and his concepts for accompanying the purest styles of flamenco. He alternates escorting great figures with running his own guitar academy, which has numerous students from around the world.
Aside from his teaching work, his contributions to the Flamenco Mass with his group, as well as his Christmas carol choir, are highly sought after.
Recently, he composed the music for the anthem celebrating Xerez C.D.'s promotion to the first division.
Interview with José Ignacio Franco
A Sound of Flamenco Guitar
The young José Ignacio Franco, a guitarist from Jerez, has already established a significant professional trajectory at the age of 29, marked by recognition as one of the promising talents in flamenco. His journey began at the age of 12 when he started playing the guitar at the academy run by Manuel Lozano "El Carbonero" and José Luis Balao, mingling with some of the greatest artists of this art form. Within two or three years of strumming his first chords at the academy, he accompanied notable artists such as Paco Cepero and El Capullo.
"El Carbonero introduced me at the peña La Bulería, and then they started calling me to perform with Ezequiel Benítez, Melchora Ortega, Juan Zarzuela...," he recounts. Franco is passionate about all types of music but, as a true Jerezano, he particularly enjoys bulerías and is also comfortable with soleá. "We've been listening to this rhythm from a young age, so it's easier to feel at ease with the compás of our land," he explains.
He recently participated in the recording of the album Abolengo alongside Paco Cepero, where he played second guitar. This is not the only album Franco has worked on; he previously collaborated on a project with Juan Zarzuela, where the two artists performed over twenty different palos of flamenco.
This summer, the young guitarist had a packed schedule of performances, continuing into September. "Last Wednesday, I performed at the Utrera Fair with a flamenco ensemble from Jerez including Juan Zarzuela, José Méndez, and Kina Méndez, among others. Last night, I played at the Pisa de la Uva here in Jerez, and tonight, I will be at the Fiesta de la Bulería, accompanying the Mujeres del Tío José de Paula. Tomorrow, my guitar strings won't get a rest either, as I will be performing at the peña El Garbanzo."
It is his first time performing at the Fiesta de la Bulería, a source of pride as it is the most important flamenco festival in the city. However, he notes that in recent years the event has become somewhat monotonous because it often features the same artists.
"In the coming months, I will start promoting Abolengo with Paco Cepero. We are scheduled to appear on television programs like those hosted by María Jiménez and María del Monte," he clarifies. Besides his unparalleled skill on the guitar, Franco teaches guitar, singing, and dancing at his academy.
José Ignacio Franco's talent has crossed Spanish borders, and he has performed at major international music festivals in Germany and Brazil. His art also deeply moved audiences in Japan, where he spent two months. "In Japan, they experience flamenco in an incredible way; we were very successful with two shows each day and always to a full house," explains José Ignacio. "The Japanese not only enjoy flamenco, they understand it deeply and feel it profoundly, to the point where I've seen a Japanese woman cry while listening to flamenco because it touches her, and, surprisingly, they are passionate about pure, traditional flamenco."
Franco recalls that the first time he performed with El Capullo was a proud moment. "I used to listen to him on cassette tapes, and one day he saw me perform at a fair in Las Viñas. After that, he called me, and within a few days, I accompanied him on the guitar during his performance." He spent several years with him, performing at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, in Gijón, and Zamora.
A similar thing happened with Paco Cepero, whom he had listened to since he was a child. "Going with him was a great joy for me. The first time I performed with Cepero was at the celebration of the Autumn Festivals when a guitarist let him down, and I had to prepare the show in two weeks. I was locked up at home, not going out." With Paco Cepero, he has performed at the Teatro de la Maestranza at the Flamenco Biennial, at the Teatro Albéniz in Madrid, and even at Jean Renoir's wedding, "because he loves flamenco, and we were there with him," he remembers.
Published in La Voz de Jerez, on september 8, 2007
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