Niño Josele

Born in Almería in 1974 as Juan Jose Heredia, the neo-flamenco guitarist Niño Josele descends from generations of traditional Spanish musicians. He first picked up the instrument in childhood, a common path in such households, yet quickly distinguished himself by embracing wide-ranging styles rather than following his ancestors’ narrower path. That versatility came into sharp focus with the 2006 release of Paz, his widely praised tribute to jazz pianist Bill Evans. Drawing on contributions from luminaries such as Joe Lavano and Marc Johnson, the album reworks Evans compositions into fresh arrangements that blend lush textures with sparse passages, situating Josele at a compelling crossroads between flamenco and classic jazz. Before Paz appeared, he had already recorded with Enrique Morente, Diego el Cigala, Bebo Valdés, and Andrés Calamaro, and he took part in the short film Almendros los Plaza Nueva. His earlier solo projects were the 1995 release Calle Ancha and the self-titled Niño Josele from 2003.