Biography

Adam del Monte, adjunct assistant professor, has been on the faculty of the Thornton studio jazz guitar department since 2002, teaching flamenco and coaching the World Guitar Ensemble. Del Monte was both influenced by and inspired the younger generation of flamenco performers who were beginning to depart from the previous virtual space of Spanish flamenco. Del Monte, too, set out in new directions, integrating years of traditional and leading-edge flamenco training, as well as expanding his musicianship on the classical guitar. An eclectic awareness of jazz, world music and other contemporary forms led to new, creative renditions of flamenco repertoire. He has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet to compose a progressive flamenco piece entitled Cambio de Aire. He has collaborated with Yusef Lateef and the Atlanta Symphony at the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. His flamenco debut CD on the Spanish label Sonifolk (1998), Viaje a Un Nuevo Mundo (Journey to a New World), was favorably reviewed by Spain's most acclaimed flamenco critic Angel Alvarez Caballero as well as Miguel Mora of El Pais and Alfredo Grimaldos of El Mundo. Other discographies include: A Mel Bay Artist Video Series, A Classical and Flamenco Recital and a GSP classical CD entitled EZORDIO. Adam del Monte plays a flamenco and classical guitar by Francisco Manuel Diaz, Granada, Spain, and a guitar by Boaz Elkayam, Israel.