Niño Elías
Who is Niño Elías?
Elías Chinoa Alcubillas, Niño Elías, was born in 1966 in Alcalá de Guadaíra (Seville). A payo by flamenco vocation, from a young age he took part in festivals and competitions where he won several awards, and over time became a regular accompanist to singers such as Miguel Vargas, Naranjito de Triana, Chano Lobato, Calixto Sánchez and Tina Pavón, as well as dancers such as Curro Vélez.
Career
Besides performing, he teaches flamenco guitar and accompaniment courses at peñas and various university venues. In 1996 he set out on a singular path within his career: he began collaborating with the poet Lauro Gandul Verdún, combining recited poetry with flamenco guitar, an experiment that led him to take part between 2002 and 2003 in the Encuentros de Poetas around Doñana, driven by José Manuel Caballero Bonald and Luis García Montero, and to perform in tributes to Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti and Miguel Hernández.
Style and discography
Uninterested in formal competitions, Niño Elías has preferred to build his career around accompanying cante, teaching, and that singular fusion with the poetic word, rather than around recording or contests.
Legacy
He is described as a professional who believes the best possible prize is the audience’s recognition, a philosophy that has guided much of his career and sets him apart within the world of Seville flamenco guitarists.