|
Post by Adam Solomon on Aug 8, 2004 21:34:45 GMT -5
Just saw these guys last night, while flipping through the channels, they were playing a live show on PBS...not bad, very technically skilled, but the same problem I have with Jesse Cook, they just don't have the feeling and emotion, the personality that OL's music does. They were flashy, they played some interesting, somewhat memorable riffs, but nothing like you'd hear on an OL album, really, and it really just increased my respect for OL.
And they used picks. Yuck.
|
|
|
Post by boris on Aug 9, 2004 2:53:24 GMT -5
My Dad likes them most. But as me, he has no idea about the real differences in guitar playing.
I can just very instinctively say that I like OL's way of playing more. Strunz + Farah's technical skills are impressive nonetheless. (You guessed that I never SAW them play, not even on DVD.)
The "problem" I have with guitarists like them is that I cannot really distinguish their different albums. A lot sounds the same to me. (Oh, and unlike Benise's recordings, this time I have all their albums.)
|
|
|
Post by Adam Solomon on Aug 9, 2004 8:44:29 GMT -5
Exactly--even all of their songs blended in, for me...I'm sure I could distinguish them more if I got to know the songs, but still, it's not as personal or emotional as Ottmar....
|
|
|
Post by UncleTito on Sept 17, 2004 7:55:48 GMT -5
You cannot possibly compare Ottmar's music with what Strunz and Farah are doing. I own all of Ottmar's albums as well as Strunz and Farah's and I will tell you this: They are not the same style of music. Strunz and Farah play Guitarra Morsica, or Moroccan guitar, and it NEEDS to be played with a pick. This style of guitar is what evolved from the Morrocan lute, the instrument the Moors brought into Spain in the year 711 AD. This was played with a pick (an eagle's feather or quill in those days), and still is.
Why would you consider Ottmar's music more personal? Because he goes for a slower groove? Or because he has better produced CD's? Strunz and Farah are not new age musicians. These guys have some very impressive chops and they like to show them off. I really like that about their style. It is explosive, spontaneous. It has an element of jazz in it and they draw not only from flamenco, but from other Latin American styles as well.
I love Ottmar's music. I find it soothing to the soul. But, would you compare Ottmar's music and guitar style to that of Paco deLucia's? Or to any of the other traditional flamenco players?
Ottmar writes music the same way a pop composer would. And that is with a focus on melody. When you listen to an Ottmar piece you can remember it. And you can do that because of the melody, which happens repetitively throughout the piece. You don't get that as much with Strunz and Farah, or with ALL of the traditional flamenco players. They focus on the fire, the moment, wherever Duende takes them.
I think that comaparing Ottmar's music with that of Strunz and Farah is like comparing oranges and apples. They are both good. It's just a matter of taste.
UncleTito
|
|
|
Post by boris on Sept 17, 2004 11:32:46 GMT -5
I will always be amazed how people pick out their special threads in a forum whose main topic is another. Makes me shiver cause I somehow always live in the illusion of feeling homely in a place that is completely open to whoever.
I am glad you registered, Uncle Tito, so that you are personalized somehow. Well, you are not referring to what I wrote here, so I would not need to take position.
I've read what you wrote with great interest cause - as I have already pointed out - I don't know much about the different guitars, the different ways to play, when to use a stick or whatever. I own all of Strunz & Farah's CDs and I like them. Yet I have difficulties to distinguish several of their albums. In that respect, I do appreciate your explanation. It wasn't possible for me to get one before, not out of their booklets, not from their web site. I mean this kind of info you just gave us. Very interesting. I can only thank you for doing so. Please feel invited to comment more, if you please.
From my amateur point of view speaking here of oranges and apples is nonetheless like dividing a hair vertically. It gets very sophisticated.
Of course you are right. And of course this forum is the place to mention this. But I can only talk about my reception, about - as Matt one day said - how it makes me feel. And in this respect, I certainly would feel free to compare Strunz & Farah with OL. Some good arguments for OL's success.......
Anyway, a good example of what you have written about the "fire" is their live album, no?
And btw, a new Strunz & Farah album called Zona Tórrida is about to be published.
P.S. Are you familiar with Lara & Reyes or Shahin & Sepehr? And if yes, how would you describe them?
P.P.S. Can somebody tell me anything about Sergio and Odair Assad?
|
|
|
Post by UncleTito on Sept 17, 2004 18:00:57 GMT -5
Ahhh!!!!! The Assad Brothers. They are one of the most important duos to come out of Brazil. There is another guitarrist in the Assad family, their sister, Badi Assad. Her music is hard to describe, but is falls somewhere between Flamenco and Latin American. She is absolutely beautiful, too.
I have only heard a few pieces performed by the Assad duo, and they were in the classical style. Villa Lobos kind of stuff. But they were actually very technical.
I have heard of the other duos that you have mentioned, mainly through compilations of the genre, so it's a little hard for me to comment on their music. I think that they are very similar to Strunz and Farrah, though. I think that S&F have done to that style of music the same thing OL has done to Noveau Flamenco. S&F have been around for over 20 years as a duo, so they have been very influential in that particular style. I mean, how original can you get with two guitar players and a back up band playing a style that has virtually remained the same for the last 20 years or so? So there are some similarities amongst all of them.
BTW. I had a chance to meet Ottmar yesterday at Borders in Boston. I was so exited man! He signed my copy of La Semana and I shook his hand. Pretty cool, Eh?
|
|
|
Post by boris on Sept 18, 2004 12:18:58 GMT -5
The Assad Brothers will give a concert nearby, in the cultural center of Murnau on October 10th (two pics of Murnau to be found quite recently in my blog for those interested). Today I bought tickets. In case you have glanced through other threads, Uncle Tito, you might have noticed that it's geographically not easy for me to see a concert of such artists as OL or Strunz & Farah. So I'm quite happy about this possibility. (Yes, I am going to write a review!!) I haven't heard anything of them yet, but searched the web a bit yesterday and decided that it's worth to go. Of course I am about to get one of their albums in advance. Lara & Reyes and Shahin & Sepehr were both published by Higher Octave. In simple words said and not insisting on being right, Lara & Reyes are much alike Strunz & Farah. They appeared on the scene in the beginning of the 90s. I read a review once were they were compared with Strunz & Farah and be considered as the new (and better) kids in town. Well, I cannot see that Strunz & Farah lost ground since then, but maybe that's nothing to be considered as important in the scene of guitar duos. Personally I like the work of Strunz & Farah more. Don't ask me which guitars they use, I would have even said that Strunz & Farah are not using Moroccian guitars but SPANISH guitars, cause that's what's written in the booklet of Rio de Colores. Shahin & Sepehr partly have Iranian roots as Farah does. But IMO their playing is a melone when you call S&F an apple... It sounds very different. I like their album "e" a lot. To say more I needed to consult the CDs which are out of reach ATM. But anyway, they are a duo and much nearer to S&F than to OL.......
|
|
Victor
Senior Member
Expert Photographer
Posts: 119
|
Post by Victor on Sept 19, 2004 22:16:55 GMT -5
UncleTito - welcome to the forum! I'm so envious you got to go to one of the Borders performances - not to mention you met Ottmar! Way cool!
|
|
|
Post by UncleTito on Sept 20, 2004 6:42:36 GMT -5
Boris: Where do you live?
You are right. They are playing Spanish guitars. When I said Moroccan guitar I was referring to the style of playing itself, not the actual guitar. When the Moors invaded Spain, the guitar already existed in some way. Most people think that the modern Spanish guitar used for classical and flamenco playing evolved from the Moroccan lute. But this is not accurate. Most scholars beleive that the modern guitar came from somewhere else in Europe. By the same token, Flamenco guitars and classical guitars differ from each other in many ways, both stylistically (playing technique) and in the way they are constructed.
In any case, you will find that most players from the middle east, will use a pick. As is the case of Farah (he's Iranian). This is because of the Moroccan lute influence. This is the dominant instrument in the middle east.
It is interesting to note that had the Moors not invaded Spain, Flamenco music would sound completely different from what it does today. Have you ever campared music from the Arab world with Flamenco? The simmilarities are overwhelming.
I know I'm off the topic here. I'm just babbling. So back to the original topic. Strunz and Farah play an amalgamation of styles, but their technique is derived from the Moroccan style.
In Ottmar's case, his playing and compositional style are ESSENTIALLY Flamenco. If you ask a traditional player about OL he or she will tell you that OL is not Flamenco, but Pop music with a Flamenco twist. I personally view OL's music as Flamenco for the masses. Because traditional Flamenco is very hard to get into.
Well, I'm way off the mark here. So, I'm going to go now. I promise I will be more focused next time.
Man, this was a mouthful!!
|
|
|
Post by boris on Sept 20, 2004 9:41:07 GMT -5
Uncle Tito, just two words for now... I'm from Germany, Southern Bavaria, and therefore longing to see OL live. Also S&F but mainly OL. And you live in Boston? Guess you will attend the S&F concert on 12/2/2004 at Sculler's Jazz Club!?! EDIT: I just noticed that they've changed their web site slightly. Now it's quite informative: www.strunzandfarah.com.
|
|
|
Post by boris on Sept 21, 2004 16:33:37 GMT -5
S&F's music is better described as international acoustic instrumental improvisational guitar music (whew!), or as some have called it, ethnojazz.
Sometimes it gets crazy when talking about categories. Better not do. The info is from their web site.
Got my first CD from the Assad Brothers today. Baroque music played with two guitars. I like that. It was windy and grey outside today and somehow the music fitted pretty well.
|
|
|
Post by UncleTito on Sept 21, 2004 17:34:53 GMT -5
So is it safe to say that they are a classical duo?
|
|
|
Post by boris on Sept 23, 2004 5:55:00 GMT -5
Yep. Definitely classical. They are going to play stuff by Villa-Lobos and Mompou in the concert, I attend. So besides the CD with Baroque music I have, I will warm up with Leaning Into the Night!!!
|
|
|
Post by boris on Oct 5, 2004 16:32:11 GMT -5
Had a little conversation with somebody about S&F. He is far more into the music biz than I am and he told me that Strunz was an electric fusion/jazz-rock guitarist in the seventies, and played electric guitar with a pick naturally, before he switched to acoustic guitar. Farah was his guitar student. So it was quite a luck that there was something like the Maroccan style to play so they needn't renounce the pick!!
|
|
|
Post by UncleTito on Oct 5, 2004 19:51:29 GMT -5
That is both true and not true. Strunz and Farah were both electric players before they switched to acoustic. But Farah was never Strunz' student. The were both quite succesful in their own countries and played extensively with other artists before they met. They have a little bit of their history posted in their website. Apparently, they met at a concert. I can't remember who was playing that night, whether it was Strunz or Farah, but I'm pretty sure this is what happened.
|
|