Taranto

“Taranto” is a flamenco style whose origin is in Almería. It derives from the “taranta”, but it follows a rhythm. That makes possible to dance it, in the same way as “zambra mora”. “Taranto” comes from the mining area of Almeria.

 

First singer this style was Pedro Morato but it's important to quote "El Cabogatero" (1810-1880) and "El Ciego de la Playa" (born around 1840). We must also mention Juan Diaz Abad "Chilares", born in 1868 in Zapillo, Almeria. “Taranto” is included in “cantes mineros” (fandango, taranto and taranta) and was developed in Almeria, in flamenco evenings, between the 19th and 20th centuries, in three cafes: "Frailito" (Plaza de Santo Domingo), "España" (C/Sebastián Perez, today General Rada), and "Lyon de Oro".

 

Flamenco club "El Taranto" is responsible for maintaining this tradition. Regarding the dance, Carmen Amaya is considered as the mother of “Taranto”. “Taranto” was also related to styles of the region of Murcia, whose link was mining lifestyle and singers as El Morato and Chilares, who lived in Cartagena and Almeria.

 

Rojo el Alpargatero lived in Almeria most of his life. There were also influences with Jaén, Linares and La Carolina. The “taranteros” and miners were together with the most famous singers from Jaen such as Basilio, Los Heredia, el Bacalao, Cabrerillo, el Tonto Linares. The bond was the mining railway between Linares and Almeria.

 

There were quite flamenco's influences between Almería and Málaga. In 1881, the great singer La Rubia de Málaga was hired by the Almería casino. Her stay there would explain that the singing of "El Ciego de la Playa" influenced to the malagueña of "El Canario", lover of La Rubia de Málaga. It was also learned by Antonio Chacón when he went to Almería to know its flamenco singings