MARÍA TORO
María Toro was born in 1979 in A Coruña, (Galicia) Spain. She becomes inseparable from her
flute from the age of eight. After achieving her degree in music she perpetrates into
traditional Galician and Portuguese music and begins to show interest in jazz and other
popular styles of music. This clear interest takes her to Madrid in 2005. Here, she is able to
combine both study and practice at the Escuela de Música Creativa. During this time Toro
achieves various awards and scholarships and takes part in prestigious musical seminars in
Spain and throughout Europe with eminent musicians such as Jorge Rossy, Michael Kanan,
Peter Bernstein and Benny Golson among others.
In 2006, simultaneous to her studies and concerts, she plunges into flamenco. In the following
years she becomes absorbed with the great flamenco masters, particularly Jorge Pardo. From
her interaction in the Amor de Dios School she begins to work with various flamenco
companies performing in theatres and music halls over the world.
In April 2011, Toro moves to New York. New York City will serve as the defining element in her
musical career, performing in acclaimed spots such as Blue Note, Joe´s Pub and 55th Bar where
she will share the stage with music artists such as Savion Glover, Jack DeJonette, Jean-Michel
Pilc, Ross Pederson and Richard Bona.
In March 2012, Toro forms part of the Flamencos en Route company performing in frequent
flamenco events in Switzerland and Germany. In July 2013, she establishes herself in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil combining her work in Europe and her musical career in New York.
ARARAS
The recording of her second album comes during Toro’s years of musical maturity in Brazil,
where more layers are to be added to her musical repertoire. The influence of her foster
country is clear from the title of the album, a rare species of bird in extinction which for the
musicians symbolizes Rio de Janeiro’s everyday nature. Sounds of nature and sounds of the
markets and streets, vendors on the beach, this is the tribute the artist wishes to pay to Rio de
Janeiro, as it is showed in Você quer.
Recorded in Rio in 2017, the album encompasses sounds from an array of renowned
musicians: a flute in G, a string quartet, a trombone, and a cello. Musicians who collaborate
are Itibirê Zwarg who composes Chacareando for this album. Above all is the source, Hermeto
Pascoal who intreprets three solos, Échate a un lado, Microcentésimas and 55.12 providing
this album with an aura of magic that one is able to appreciate in all its splendor.