Strunz & Farah

Strunz & Farah
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresFlamenco, World, Jazz, Latin, Instrumental
Years active1979–present
LabelsSelva, Milestone, AudioQuest, Mesa
MembersJorge Strunz
Ardeshir Farah
Websitewww.strunzandfarah.com

Strunz & Farah is a guitar duo with an eclectic sound that has been described as a cross between world jazz and other influences, especially Latin jazz and Latin folk music, and Middle Eastern and flamenco.[1]

History

Jorge Strunz, born in Costa Rica, and Ardeshir Farah, hailing from Iran, met in the United States in 1979.[2][3] Jorge Strunz was one of the founders of the Latin jazz band Caldera. Caldera combined jazz, funk and rock with a wide variety of Latin music, influenced by 1970s fusion explorers like John McLaughlin,[4] Return to Forever and Weather Report. After four albums, the band separated in 1979 (though three out of their four albums have been reissued on CD and digital except for their third album Time & Chance).

Having both played guitar professionally since their early teens, Strunz and Iranian guitarist Ardeshir Farah met in Los Angeles and released their first album, Mosaico, in 1982, which they produced and released on L. Subramaniam's label Ganesh Records.[5][6] Later they started their own label, Selva Records. They soon caught the attention of Richard Bock, an important figure in jazz radio, who helped the duo land a contract with the jazz label Milestone, for whom they recoreded two albums. As a musical duo, Strunz & Farah drew upon their collective musical influences, such as Paco de Lucía, Sabicas, Chick Corea and Persian classical music to create a unique sound that incorporates elements of Flamenco, Persian rhythms and Jazz.[7]

Strunz & Farah have since released nineteen recordings together, several albums as a duo and collaborating with Rubén Blades (Joseph and His Brothers BMG, 1993), Luis Conte (percussion on their debut album, Mosaico) and with L. Subramaniam on two tracks ("Confluence" and "Shadow of Heaven") on their debut recording, Mosaico. Throughout their career, Strunz & Farah have collaborated with a number of other artists, combining a variety of musical traditions through their work. Past collaborators include Manoochehr Sadeghi on their second studio album, Frontera, Hayedeh on their third studio album, Guitarras, Humberto "Nengue" Hernandez on their ninth studio album, Wild Muse, and Keyavash Nourai and Diego "El Negro" Alvarez on their latest studio album, Tales of Two Guitars.[8]

The duo also worked with Sting on the album The Living Sea: Soundtrack from the IMAX Film as session musicians.

Their latest album, Syncretic Strings, was released on March 2, 2023.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Mosaico (1982)
  • Frontera (1984)
  • Guitarras (1985)
  • Misterio (1989)
  • Primal Magic (1990)
  • Américas (1992)
  • Heat of the Sun (1995)
  • Live (1997)
  • Wild Muse (1998)
  • The Best of Strunz & Farah (2000)
  • Stringweave (2001)
  • Strunz & Farah In Performance (2003); DVD
  • Rio de Colores (2003)
  • Zona Tórrida (2005)
  • Desert Guitars (2005)
  • Jungle Guitars (2006)
  • Fantaseo (2006)
  • Journey Around the Sun (2011)
  • Moods and Visions (2014)
  • Tales of Two Guitars (2018)
  • Syncretic Strings (2023)

Jorge Strunz

  • Neotropical Nocturnes (2010)
  • Guitar Whims (2025), a digital EP

Other Compilation Appearances

  • Guitar Music For Small Rooms (1997) (WEA)
  • Gypsy Passion: New Flamenco (1997) (Narada)
  • Gypsy Soul: New Flamenco (1998) (Narada)
  • Gypsy Fire (2000) (Narada)
  • Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco - Volume I (2000) (Baja/TSR Records)
  • Camino Latino / Latin Journey - Liona Maria Boyd (2002) (Moston)
  • The World Of The Spanish Guitar Vol. 1 (2011) (Higher Octave Music)

See also

References

  1. ^ Allmusic history
  2. ^ John (June 25, 2019). "Strunz & Farah: Billboard Chart Topping Costa Rican & Iranian Guitar Duo". WMF Podcast. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  3. ^ "Exclusive Interview with the Guitar Duo, Strunz & Farah". IllnesstoWellness. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  4. ^ "Exclusive Interview with the Guitar Duo, Strunz & Farah". IllnesstoWellness. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  5. ^ Farahmand, Farzad (May 2012). "Exclusive Interview with the Grammy Award Nominee, The Guitar Duo Strunz & Farah". Calabasas Times Magazine. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  6. ^ Strunz & Farah (1980). Mosaico (LP). Selva. SLV 1001. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  7. ^ Gardner, John. "Strunz & Farah: Costa Rican-Iranian Global Fusion Guitar Duo." The World Music Foundation Podcast. The World Music Foundation. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. ^ Gardner, John. "Strunz & Farah: Costa Rican-Iranian Global Fusion Guitar Duo." The World Music Foundation Podcast. The World Music Foundation. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  9. ^ "1989 Joan Baez – Speaking Of Dreams | Sessiondays". June 19, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
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