The latest issue of Candil magazine, published by the Peña Flamenca de Jaén since 1978, features a heartfelt tribute to guitarist Miguel Ochando. The article, written by his fellow countryman Jorge Fernández Bustos, includes testimonies from the artist's colleagues and friends.
Miguel Ochando, born in Granada in 1965, passed away suddenly at a young age on January 10, 2025. A child prodigy, he debuted on the guitar at the Peña La Platería and quickly won prestigious competitions such as those in Jerez de la Frontera (1983) and La Unión (1984), also winning an award on the Spanish Television program Gente Joven in 1985.
Throughout his career, Ochando was the regular guitarist for several generations of Granada performers, recording with artists like El Polaco, Javier Montenegro, Antonio Fernández, and María José Pérez. He also collaborated with Enrique Morente on his 1998 album Lorca, contributing his guitar playing to a granaína and taranta.
His work extended to notable pieces such as Macama jonda (1983) and 2 gritos en libertad (1999). Although renowned as an accompanying musician, Ochando also explored a solo career, learning from his master Manolo Cano, which was particularly showcased in his sole solo album, Memoria (2007).
Furthermore, Ochando served as a mentor to the new generation of Granada guitarists, training musicians like Álvaro Martinete and Antonio de la Luz. The publication by the Peña Flamenca de Jaén also delves into other flamenco topics, including the influence of 19th-century bullfighters from Cádiz and the cantaor Pencho Cros.
