Carles Benavent

Birth: Barcelona, 1954

On several occasions flamenco has felt attracted by jazz, and vice-versa. Paco de Lucía was one of the first to introduce 'jazz' instruments into his flamenco compositions. This is how Carles Benavent became initiated in flamenco, and he did so to such an extent, that at present we could almost say that he is more of a flamenco musician that a jazz musician. Paco de Lucía instructed him in his art form, but Benavent has contributed his own strokes of genius, such as the use of the flamenco alzapua guitar playing technique (using the right hand, the thumb is repeatedly brandished over the same guitar chord, usually a grave, or deep, chord) while playing the electric bass.

Carles Benavent has always been a self-taught musician. As a jazz musician he has shared the stage with geniuses like Quincy Jones, Chick Corea and Miles Davis. He has also worked on several occasions alongside saxophonist Jorge Pardo, who was also recruited to flamenco by Paco de Lucía. Both of them (Pardo and Benavent) were Grammy award candidates with a record that they made for the Jazzpaña project.