Juan Jose Carranza

Hailing from Montreal Canada but of Costa Rican origins, Juan José Carranza is known for his flamboyant guitar playing. He has developed a highly percussive technique that allows him to incorporate Latin rhythms into his nuevo flamenco. His first solo album, Flamenco de la Costa, came out in 1998, followed by Playa Gitana in 2000.

Carranza's parents are from Costa Rica, but he was born in the United States and raised in New York City. Growing up, he was surrounded by Latin rhythms (Tito Puente, Ray Barretto) and his first interest in music went to the drums, but his eardrum-conscious parents bought him a guitar instead. He first performed salsa, progressive rock and punk rock in amateur and semi-professional groups. Near the end of his teenage years he met a gypsy street musician who taught him a few complex flamenco tricks. Carranza was hooked and soon opted for flamenco as his primary music style and travelling musician as his lifestyle.

Throughout his youth, Carranza had spent periods of time in Costa Rica. Now he returned there, playing in bars and restaurants while living on the beach. His travels took him to Mexico, Holland, and Spain, all places where he learned from other musicians, crafting his art. In 1997 he settled in Montreal, trading the warm beaches of Costa Rica for the city's old port. Performing daily on the street, he quickly became a staple busker, attracting tourists and residents with his highly energetic and virtuoso playing. Label manager Paul Etch discovered him on a street corner and offered him a record contract. Released on Oliver Sudden in 1998, Flamenco de la Costa is mostly a solo album. It attracted good press and led to an appearance at the Ritmo y Color Festival in Toronto and local media attention. For Playa Gitana, the guitarist brought in a backup group, especially a rhythm section to push the Latin aspect of his music forward. Since 2000 he has performed on the main stage of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and at the Rhythms of the World festival in Toronto. In 2002 he formed the fusion flamenco trio Fogata with two percussionists. ~ François Couture, Rovi