Américas (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Américas
| type = studio
| artist = Strunz & Farah
| cover = Américas (album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1992
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Latin jazz, flamenco
| length =
| producer = Jorge Strunz, Ardeshir Farah
| prev_title = Primal Magic
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Heat of the Sun
| next_year = 1995
}}
Américas is an album by the musical duo Strunz & Farah, released in 1992.{{cite magazine |last1=Holston |first1=Mark |title=Music Notes — Americas by Strunz & Farah |magazine=Americas |date=1992 |volume=44 |issue=4 |page=56}}{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=John |title=World music niche fits Strunz and Farah |work=Vancouver Sun |date=20 June 1992 |page=E10}} They supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Lepage |first1=Mark |title=Hispanic guitar transports audience to higher plane |work=The Gazette |location=Montreal |date=5 July 1992 |page=F3}} Strunz & Farah promoted the album as "'a celebration of five centuries of Spanish guitar in the Americas.'" Although often referred to as a flamenco duo, Jorge Strunz felt that the designation did not account for the Latin American influences.
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best World Music Album".{{cite web |title=Strunz And Farah |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/strunz-and-farah/7207 |website=Recording Academy |access-date=3 August 2022}} It sold around 500,000 copies and peaked in the top five of Billboard's World Music Albums chart.{{cite magazine |title=World Music Albums |magazine=Billboard |date=Jun 27, 1992 |volume=104 |issue=26 |page=44}} Américas was a hit on adult contemporary music radio formats.{{cite news |last1=Shuster |first1=Fred |title=Strunz & Farah Finally Get Their Chance to Make Waves |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=October 16, 1992 |page=L28}}
Production
The album was produced by Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah.{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews — Americas by Strunz & Farah |magazine=Billboard |date=Jun 6, 1992 |volume=104 |issue=23 |page=45}} Most of its songs were written by Strunz; he was influenced by Mario Escudero and Sabicas and the Latin music of his youth.{{cite news |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Fernando |title=Strunz, Farah: Fascinating mishmash |work=The Boston Globe |date=10 Sep 1992 |department=Arts & Film |page=87}}{{cite news |last1=Buchholz |first1=Brad |title=A two-guitar chorus of cultures – Strunz & Farah's music defies easy categorization |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=October 19, 1992 |page=1C}} The duo played Pedro Maldonado flamenco guitars.{{cite news |last1=Beal, Jr. |first1=Jim |title=Strunz & Farah a global duo |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=October 23, 1992 |page=20H}}
Critical reception
{{album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/americas-mw0000611447|title=Strunz & Farah Americas|website=AllMusic}}
|rev2 = Boston Herald
|rev2score = B+{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=Larry |title=Discs |work=Boston Herald |date=September 4, 1992 |page=S8}}
|rev3 = The Indianapolis Star
|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Judy |title=Strunz & Farah Americas |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=22 June 1992 |page=D2}}
|rev4 = MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide
|rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide |date=2000 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=740}}
}}
The Indianapolis Star wrote that "the music is seamless ... Strunz and Farah's sounds turn magical when they're speedily playing the same notes (as in short snippets in 'Balada')." The Los Angeles Times determined that "the two guitarists have finally found the right balance between compositional interest, bubbling Latin-based rhythms and distinctive, ear-pleasing solos."{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Zan |title=In the Bins |work=Los Angeles Times |date=31 July 1992 |page=F21}}
Guitar Player lamented that the album "suffers from a sanitized production, a sonic politeness at odds with Spanish guitar's visceral impact."{{cite magazine |title=Audio – Americas by Strunz and Farah |magazine=Guitar Player |date=Sep 1992 |volume=26 |issue=9 |page=127}} The Boston Globe noted that "flamenco ... works as the unifying thread." The Houston Chronicle stated that the duo "again draw from the distantly-related traditions of Spanish flamenco, Afro-Cuban salsa (and similar Latin folk forms) and middle Eastern music."{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rick |title='Americas' Strunz and Farah |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 24, 1992 |department=Zest |page=15}}
AllMusic wrote that the album "melds the flair, dexterity and cultural roots of their combined Latin American and Middle Eastern heritages with the surrounding septet of tremendous musicians."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Caracol
| length1 =
| title2 = Jaguar
| length2 =
| title3 = Candela
| length3 =
| title4 = Alas del Sur (Wings of the South)
| length4 =
| title5 = Américas
| length5 =
| title6 = Luna Suave (Soft Moon)
| length6 =
| title7 = Balada (For Heideh)
| length7 =
| title8 = Gypsy Earrings
| length8 =
| title9 = Rayo
| length9 =
| title10 = Selva
| length10 =
}}