Toti Soler

Toti Soler
Background information
Born (1949-06-07) 7 June 1949
Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Genres Flamenco, classical, blues, jazz
Occupation(s) Composer, guitarist
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Website www.totisoler.com

Jordi Soler i Galí (born 7 June 1949), known by the stage name Toti Soler, is a Spanish guitarist, singer and composer,[1] one of the most important figures of contemporary music in Catalonia. He had a classical training with influences of blues, jazz and flamenco. His compositions are noted for their poetic, sensitive qualities and often use extracts from poetry.

Early life and studies

Jordi Soler i Galí was born on 7 June 1949 in Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona.[1] He trained at the Conservatori Municipal de Música de Barcelona from 1965 and the Spanish Guitar Centre in London from 1969.[2] His blues influence was obtained from American blues musician Taj Mahal, whom he met in 1971, and his flamenco influence[3] was obtained from Diego del Gastor during a trip to Andalucia in 1972.[4]

Works and awards

Soler's work has appeared in several films, such as Ugo Tognazzi's I viaggiatori della sera (1979).[2] In the early 1980s he performed in a duo with flautist Ma Anand Yashu.[5] In the late 1980s he worked with Pedro Javier González.[6] He has worked with Léo Ferré,[2] José Manuel Roldan,[4] Ovidi Montllor,[7] Jordi Sabatés,[8] Cinta Massip,[9] Ester Formosa,[10] Carles Rebassa,[11] Francesc Pi de la Serra, Pascal Comelade,[12] Maria del Mar Bonet[13] and Pau Riba,[14] amongst others.

In 1996, Soler participated in the seventh (VII) Festival de Guitarra de Barcelona performing works of J. S. Bach.[4] Later that year he won the Catalan award for best record (Premi al Millor Disc Català de l'Any), for the anthology Lydda.[2] In 2002, Soler recorded the album Vita Nuova and performed it at the Palau de la Música Catalana.[4] In 2003, he received the Premio Nuevas Músicas award from the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE).[2] In 2005, he received the Premi Nacional de Música de Catalunya (National Music Prize of Catalonia), awarded by the Culture Department of the Generalitat of Catalonia, for his albums L'arxiver de Tortosa, Racconto and Guitar cançons i.[15] In 2006 he was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi.[16]

In 2004, Plays International said of Joan Ollé's production at the Teatre Lliure of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya that "Toti Soler's guitarist, providing a lyrical underscoring to the onstage action, functions both as an observer and commentator. His stark music is poignant and melancholy, and captures beautifully the enigmatic mood of on- and off-stage traumas and passions." [17]

Soler's live cover of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" (sung in Catalan and entitled "Susanna") appeared on the 2007 album "Acordes Con Leonard Cohen." [18]

References

  1. 1 2 Xosé Aviñoa (2004). Història de la Música Catalana, Valenciana i Balear: Cronologia universal. Edicions 62. p. 221. ISBN 978-84-297-5478-0. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guitarrísimo: Concierto de guitarra Toti Soler". Instituto Cervantes. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Luis López Ruiz (1 March 2007). Guía del flamenco. Ediciones AKAL. p. 193. ISBN 978-84-460-2670-9. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Biography of Toti Soler" (PDF). Totisoler.com. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  5. ↑ International Jazz Federation; European Jazz Federation; Polish Jazz Society (1983). Jazz Forum. For Jazz, sp. z o. o. p. 26. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "PEDRO JAVIER GONZÁLEZ" (PDF). Kean University. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Mas, Marta (1994). Digui, digui ...: llibre del professor. L'Abadia de Montserrat. p. 123. ISBN 978-84-7826-502-2. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Cambio 16. Informacion y Publicaciones, S. A. March 1983. p. 11. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  9. ↑ Poy, Domingo; Poy, Pere (2004). Terres d'aigua: poemari de les Terres de l'Ebre. Cossetània Edicions. p. 91. ISBN 978-84-9791-011-8. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Plastino, Goffredo (2003). Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-415-93656-9. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Anuari teatral de les Illes Balears 2005. L'Abadia de Montserrat. 20 July 2007. p. 259. ISBN 978-84-8415-950-6. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  12. ↑ Les inrockuptibles. Editions Indépendantes. 2004. p. 198. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  13. ↑ Cuadernos para el diálogo. 1976. p. 7. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  14. ↑ Mariona Ferran i Permanyer (1997). L'Escola Isabel de Villena I la Seva Gent (1939-1989): Mig Segle D'acció Escolar Catalana. L'Abadia de Montserrat. p. 271. ISBN 978-84-7826-820-7. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "Premios Nacionales de Cultura y de las Artes por anys; Premios Nacionales de Cultura 2005". Consell Nacional de la Cultura i de les Arts. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "La Generalitat otorga la Creu de Sant Jordi a 62 personalidades y a 15 entidades" (online edition). La Vanguardia. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  17. ↑ Plays International. Chancery Publications Ltd. 2004. pp. 27–28. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  18. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/acordes-con-leonard-cohen-mw0001198076
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