Professional flamenco and classical guitarist, his work as a musical director, composer, and arranger have led him to perform in diverse projects ranging from flamenco, in its variety of expressions, to Latin American music, electronic music, classical music, world music, and jazz among others. He has been recognized with several awards as a guitarist and composer among which we can mention:
- First national classical guitar prize sponsored by the Cultural Center of Spain (Costa Rica).
- First Prize for best international concert guitarist Niño Ricardo competition (Spain).
- First Prize for best concert guitarist and “cante” accompaniment Sabicas competition (Spain).
- First prize A.I.E., society of artists, performers, and composers (Spain).
- First prize for the best musical composition for a photo expo (New York/U.S.A).
- ACAM Award for his cd “SOLO” as the best instrumental project of the year.
- Finalist in the Nacional Flamenco Art Competition of Cordoba (Spain).
- Second Prize for best concert guitarist and “cante” accompaniment Sabicas (Spain).
Receives great reviews from specialized press being cataloged for his “excellence in his compositions” by figures such as Norberto Torres and Manolo Sanlucar. Shares artistic program in different festivals with Niña Pastori, Vicente Amigo, Arcangel, Andy Summers, Pepe Romero, Diego el Cigala and Duo Assad among others. His work has taken him to more than 20 countries and also several tours through all Spain participating in prestigious circuits and festivals such as the Madrid, Castilla la Mancha and Valencia theatre`s network, Cajón Flamenco Festival (Barcelona), G.P.S. (Girando Por Salas), World Music Festival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Culture tour (Barcelona).
In 2014 he presents his first recording as a soloist “Solo” produced for “La Voz del Flamenco” label offering concerts in cities such as Cadiz, Rome, Villena, Wrocław, Prague, Florence, Huelva, and Sevilla were was also part of Paco de Lucia`s memorial concert within figures such as Rafael Riqueni, Pedro Sierra and Manolo Franco. Press has extended his admiration highlighting his particular ability to interpret and compose a variety of styles with total mastery.
Specialized press highlights his outstanding qualities to include such a variety of musical styles in his repertoire with total mastery and virtuosity, A “guitar concert” is a very different experience for the audience when he has him on stage.
In september 2021 publishes his new cd “Confluencia” his second solo album.
"Montero relies on his imagination and the variety of his touch, replacing the famous "hermetic" label with the "personality" one. This virtuoso and creative artist search goes beyond repeating the stereotypes quite established in the flamenco guitar to tint his work with creativity and a remarkable musical expressiveness". "Enjoyable cd for its freshness primarily but mainly for its contribution to a new atmosphere...… only sounds, to be listen-only, it's simply music"
"In Manuel Montero we find flamenco, elegance, cleanliness and a total domain of the classic Spanish guitar, this "long" tocaor ( the longest one if I can allow myself with this expression since he includes from the jondo style up to jazz, passing threw Albeniz, Latin-American music, electronic music, classical music, world music....) he has an impressive personality which is present in all the variety of his repertoire, perfectly allowing to be compared with Sanlucar, Riqueni, Vicente Amigo, and, even if it could be thought as blasphemy to compare him with the greatest maestro Paco de Lucía, his influences are undoubted, especially in his virtuoso technic and his outstanding elegance ".
"Artists like Montero have a universal understanding of music, where the expressions of the world are debated, confronted and exposed going out of his guitar in elegant chords with simultaneous passion, simply unique "
For the past 3 years has been part of José Antonio Rodríguez band, one of the most important flamenco artists, premiering at “Festival de la Guitarra de Cordoba” considered the most important guitar festival in the world, so to go on performing in many of the greatest Festivals and theaters around the world.
“His aesthetic taste is very wide, capable to interpret and compose different pieces that might at first seem not related but that are part of his global musical sense. In this new “Solo” album we can feel Manuel`s musical world. Music with capital letters… flamenco, classical and jazz with certain Andalusian influence, also rescuing composers such as Enrico Panza and Jose Mora, giving roundness to his proposal. A cd to enjoy without labels, only through the senses and taste”. José Antonio Rodríguez.
“He`s highly creative and full of imagination. Presents a fluid and brave eclecticism involved by his virtuoso technique, not only through the modern flamenco but also via the classical and Latin American guitar, demonstrating an impressive musical range.”Jorge Strunz.
“Every time I listen to a guitar album I want to know in which direction the artist wants to walk through, recording a guitar cd using the Spanish guitar is a real challenge for its uniqueness. The technique should be practically perfect to run all the techniques required, Arpeggios, thumb (Alzapua), scales (picados), etc. Now, after transmitting harmonies that excite and enrich our hearts, Manuel clearly fulfills the objective since he has succeeded in combining different musical disciplines with total success, he gives us classical guitar pieces such as “Asturias”, “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” and Flamenco ones through the form of “Palos”, like “Alegrias”, “bulerías” and also some Flamenco-Latin-Jazz moments. I hope Manuel could find his path within the guitar world, and for that reason, I wish him great success.” Pedro Sierra, guitarist, performer, producer, and Flamenco.
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