Jondo Dias In The Spotlight

Last Updated: 18th December 2023

Let us introduce Jondo Dias. He is an immensely talented flamenco-style acoustic guitarist who performs an impressive blend of funk and flamenco fusion tracks. With only one guitar and one set of hands, Jondo Dias supplies sizzling latin melodies, irresistible rhythms and mesmerising percussive beats.

Jondo Dias devises his own incredible arrangements and delivers every note of every song with flair and passion. With a repertoire featuring energetic and powerful original pieces and acoustic covers of well-known pop, rock and funk hits, Jondo’s feverishly exciting show is guaranteed to get your guests swept up in the intoxicating romance of Latin-style guitar.

Jondo Dias is an extremely skilled performer with years of professional experience. Jondo has shown off his skills at everything from private events to performances on The One Show and Sky Arts Guitar Star, as well as shows for George Benson and an exclusive event at Jimi Hendrix’s Mayfair apartment. And that’s just mentioning a few.

Acoustic Spanish Guitar

We wanted to find out a bit more about this masterful musician, so welcomed Jondo Dias for his turn In The Spotlight. Here’s what he had to say:

Who is Jondo Dias?

I’m based in North London although I do move around a lot – previously living in Dublin, Istanbul, and Budapest before that – and I play a quite unique style of instrumental flamenco – funk fusion on a single acoustic guitar! If you’ve heard of Rodrigo Y Gabriela its a bit like them meets James Brown on guitar, very percussive, very energetic, designed to get people moving. I perform at all sorts of events from weddings, big corporate parties and guitar festivals to restaurants, hotels and TV sets for broadcast.

When did you start learning the guitar?

I started age 13, which is relatively late compared to many others and I wish it was earlier. By age 16 I very vividly remember saying to my parents I wanted to make my life from this instrument. By age 20 that was happening, in some form or another. I feel very lucky that is the case, and that they allowed me to persevere in that path.

What is it that attracts you to flamenco music?

Latin, Spanish, and Flamenco styles, in general, attracted me because they sounded so different from the music that others in my generation as a teenager were listening to. I was drawn to both the percussiveness used and the passion of the music; I felt it had value and meaning in every note, regarding the flamenco. Whereas the pop and pop-rock / pop-punk of my early teen’s generation seemed to completely lack that.

I was very percussive growing up – tapping tables, clicking, making rhythms – and that aspect of my persona bled into my guitar playing. I also loved that the flamenco and Latin styles of music had such an incentive for people to dance to them.

Who are your musical influences?

Beyond any doubt the specific artist who made me want to play initially was Carlos Santana. I heard him on my mum’s car cassette tape, the Abraxas album, which had Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va and Samba Pa Ti on it. The Latin rhythms alongside the searing electric guitar and horns blew my mind and I loved it. I was lucky enough to grow up in a household of mixed cultures and where both my parents listened to a wide spectrum of music, and so anything from disco, funk, classic rock to Latin, flamenco, jazz and blues were my soundtracks growing up – alongside some more obscure Turkish stuff too!

Other huge influences in my playing and musical education across the board were: Pink Floyd (guitarist David Gilmour), Stevie Ray Vaughan, Raul Midon, George Benson, Bill Withers, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, and of course Jimi Hendrix.

Latin Guitar

Which is your favourite song to perform?

I do like playing my acoustic-percussive version of Enter Sandman. It’s not a track that is easily naturally fitting into that format but always turns peoples heads when I go into it. Apart from that, Strings Attached is usually a show-ending track and I like putting everything into that.

Have you ever been asked to learn a special request? If so what was it and what was the event?

First immediate answer: Many, and as long as I feel I can do a rendition of the track the justice it deserves I’m quite happy to oblige and I generally enjoy the challenge of the new track. I remember one very clearly because it was the first time I ever performed solo acoustic – complete silence apart from my music – for a bride walking down the aisle; it was True Colours by Cyndi Lauper.

I’ve performed in very pressured situations for all sorts of high profile gigs, under examination conditions being observed by a panel of highly respected guitarists scrutinising my every note, and I’ve performed to guitar legends for TV shows broadcast to millions – but nothing felt more like a test of musical professionalism than playing that piece of music perfectly while the bride was walking down the aisle. Even one wrong or fluffed note would mar a beautiful memory and important event for everyone in attendance.

I played it perfectly, don’t worry! And got many great compliments afterwards for the playing, I was very relieved and proud that I contributed so positively to the occasion. That was quite a few years ago now, but I still approach such events with that professional mindset and approach. As such, and this applies to performing in general but especially when performing a specially requested track for a special moment, I try to live by the motto:

A good musician practices until they get it right
A professional musician practices until they can’t get it wrong

Second answer: I had the immense honour and pleasure of being invited to perform at Jimi Hendrix’s apartment in Mayfair, London where he lived for ’67 and ’68 before his death for a special evening of intimate music and invite-only guests. I was asked to perform a track of his amongst the others; I chose an acoustic percussive rendition of Voodoo Child and it was absolutely surreal performing a Hendrix track in the space that he lived in. One of the highlights of my career.

Jondo Dias Flamenco Fusion Guitarist

What’s the best thing about being a professional musician?

I do what I love, very simply! I feel more at home with a guitar in my hands performing than any other time. And I get to travel to new places and cultures and perform to them. I love it. I get a lot of pride knowing that with these two hands on my instrument I pay for my life.

And what’s the worst?

Travelling through London rush hour carrying two guitars in bulky flight cases and a backpack full of music gear. And, of course, the financial ups and downs of being a self-employed musician!

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you at an event?

I haven’t had so many majorly weird things at events that stand out, but some general ones:

Women always asking where I get my nails on my right hand done after I perform.

Meeting and then recording (music!) with a porn star at an event who was also a signed artist for a record label.

A fistfight breaking out between the event host and catering team leader on the main stage in front of hundreds of audience members.

Seeing a severely elderly happy man being grinded on by an 18-year-old girl to the tune of Mustang Sally.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a musician?

I’ve got a background inadvertently in events management and also have had experience tour managing rock bands around the UK, so I would probably be involved in some of those fields. I can’t imagine not being involved in music. I can imagine a time when I’m not leaning on performing music as my sole income – it can be very difficult with massive ups and downs! – but I would always still be playing, practising and performing.