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Tomas Rodriguez
BIO
“Highly recommended…a guitarist whose influences span the Latin world.
Flamenco, Brazilian choro and Mexican boleros blend in Mr. Rodriguez’s unique approach.
— Ann Powers, The New York Times
Tomas Rodriguez is a New York City based guitarist who has developed a unique repertoire for guitar performance that is rooted in his ancestry and guided by the diverse styles of music that have inspired him. These include the folk music of Galicia, Spain, the music of Venezuelan harp masters Juan Vicente Torrealba and Malian kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté. Informed by this broad palette, Rodriguez’ own compositions display an engaging groove, touching harmonies and a mesmerizing exploration of the guitar’s rich background in the music of Africa and the Americas. In addition to his solo work, he also performs in duos with the Gambian kora master Salieu Suso and jazz cellist Barry Kornhauser.
Born in Washington D.C. of a Spanish father and a mother from the Appalachian region of Virginia, Rodriguez grew up in New York, New Jersey and Idaho. As a child he was inspired by his father’s eclectic record collection, which included Frank Sinatra, Beethoven, the Venezuelan harpist Juan Vicente Torrealba and Latin crooner
Lucho Gatica.
As a teen, he learned to play electric guitar by ear from Jimi Hendrix records, and went on to study classical guitar with Sharon Isbin at the Manhattan School of Music. He later toured with the renowned NYC based Pregones Theatre and informally immersed himself in flamenco on the streets of Sevilla over successive summers.
Rodriguez’ guitar playing has captivated audiences nationally and internationally. Performance highlights include the International Festival of the Guitar in Lima, Peru, the Brooklyn Museum, Merkin Hall, and Trinity Church in New York City as well as the New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts (NJPAC), the World Expressions Series at Boise State University and the University of Virginia. He has commercially released three full length albums: Guitarra de mi Alma, Dialogue, and most recently, Ruminations.
A dedicated music educator, Rodriguez runs a unique honors-level guitar program for young people in Brooklyn, NY, using African, Latin, Flamenco, Jazz and Classical styles to teach beginners to advanced students. Previously, he founded and directed an innovative after-school guitar program at one of New York’s largest Latino social service organizations, utilizing music from Latin America and Spain to teach basic guitar skills. He is also a registered Suzuki guitar instructor and has also taught at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.
Tomas Rodriguez is a member of The American Federation of Musicians, ASCAP and The Guitar Foundation of America.
PRESS
“Tomas Rodriguez plays guitar with a passionate originality, with an individual touch, drawing from the musical heart of the Latin world.” The folk and classical traditions of Spain and South America are richly evident in Rodriguez’ playing, but he transmutes them into a sound clearly, fervently his own”.
— Norman Weinstein (Christian Science Monitor)
“Highly recommended… a guitarist whose influences span the Latin world. Flamenco, Brazilian choro and Mexican boleros blend in Mr. Rodriguez’s unique approach.
— Ann Powers, New York times
“Tomas Rodriguez’ playing was passionate and heartfelt and radiated a subtle sensuousness”
— Marianne Flagg, The Idaho Statesman
Featured Video
DUETS WITH THE SPANISH GUITAR AND MANDIKA KORA
Kora player Salieu Suso (the Gambia) and guitarist Tomas Rodriguez first collaborated as part of a larger ensemble at a United Nations gathering honoring diplomats from Africa and Spain. Later, they realized that the guitar and kora were a natural fit, and began to explore creating a duo repertoire – drawing on influences from the Mandinka griot repertoire, contemporary flamenco guitar and other diverse influences – such as the arpa llanera music of Venezuela. The duo seeks to create an original sound while still honoring the kora tradition, creating an uncontrived, organic “conversation” between the two instruments.
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Next Event
Sunday, February 26, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, March 19, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Tomas Rodriguez, Solo Guitar Concert
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
171 Closter Dock Road, Closter, New Jersey 07640
Information: Harrington Park Arts Council at 201 768-2615
Sunday, March 26, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 3 to 6pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Upcoming Performances
Sunday, February 26, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, March 19, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Tomas Rodriguez, Solo Guitar Concert.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 31 Lynn Street, Harrington Park, New Jersey.
ticket information will be available soon
Sunday, March 26, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 3 to 6pm
Trio with Urbano Sanchez (percussion) and Barry Kornhauser (cello). Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
Friday April 7th Boise, ID: House Concert.
ID: House Concert.
Saturday June 3 and Sunday June 4: Philadelphia, PA: House Concerts
PA: House Concerts
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 (private event)
Trio with Cesar Gabarini, guitar and Dennis Bulhões, percussion Consulate of Brazil, 225 E 41st St, New York, NY
Sunday, December 11, 2022, from 3 to 6 pm(private event)
Trio with Urbano Sanchez, percussion and Barry Kornhauser, cello Standard Wormwood Distillery, Industry City at 68 34th St, Brooklyn, NY
August 5, 2022 (Friday)
Private House Concert, Brattleboro, VT
Tomas Rodriguez with Julian Gerstin (percussion)
September 10 (Saturday)
Marcy Plaza, Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, 2 to 4 pm
Tomas Rodriguez, Enrique Lopez and Manuel Carro
September 10 (Saturday)
The Craft Salon, Kensington, Brooklyn, 6 to 8 pm
Tomas Rodriguez, Enrique Lopez and Manuel Carro
September 11 (Sunday)
Open Streets, Kensington Plaza, Brooklyn, 3 to 5 pm
Tomas Rodriguez with Hasan Bakr (percussion)
September 18 (Sunday)
Ruta Oaxaca Astoria, Sunday Brunch 1 to 4 pm
Tomas Rodriguez, solo guitar
May 28, 2022 (Saturday) | 5PM
Private Concert - Woodstock, NY
Tomas Rodriguez and Enrique Lopez (Guitar duo)
June 6, 2022 (Thursday) | 6PM
Livestream Concert - Concerts in Motion, 12 PM
Chelsea Piers - SCI Silver Bell Gala (Private Concert)
June 19, 2022 (Sunday) | 3:30PM
Music In the Plaza - Kensington Plaza, Brooklyn, NY
Trio with Enrique Lopez (gtr) and Manuel Carro (percussion
July 16, 2022 (Saturday) | 7:30PM
Private Concert, Maplewood Gardens Theatre Maplewood, NJ
Tomas Rodriguez (guitar) and Salieu Suso (kora)
July 30, 2022 (Sunday) | 2PM
Vanderbilt Open Streets, Brooklyn, NY
Tomas Rodriguez (guitar) and Salieu Suso (kora)
MUSIC
“Vereda Tropical” with Enrique Lopez and Manuel Carro
“Canto de Ossanha” with Enrique Lopez and Manuel Carro
“Vals de la Partida”, an original waltz in the Venezuelan style (with Julian Gerstin and Barry Kornhauser)
LISTEN
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