Flamenco Fridays Sabicas
The taranto is a flamenco style that emerged in Almería (Spain), specifically in its mining area, and derives from the taranta. The difference between both styles is that the taranto has compass, something that makes it danceable, being a dance very similar to that of the zambra mora. On the contrary, the taranta is compass free.
Pepe el Morato is considered the first to interpret a taranto, but as pioneers of this song you can also refer to singers such as Ciego de la Playa, Juan Abad Díaz ‘Chilares’ and ‘El Cabogatero’.
As we mentioned earlier, the taranto arose in the Almeria mining area, between the towns of Garrucha and Cuevas de Almanzora, hence it is part of the group of the ‘cantes de minas’ (songs of the mines) or Levante, to which the fandango and the taranta are added , matrix of this style.