Reviews

“The Apaixonado Duo members, American cellist James Bailey and the Peruvian guitarist Alfredo Muro, forms an ensemble that mixes an extreme expressiveness with a refined musicality, creating a musical dialogue between these beautiful stringed instruments. From Bach to Jobim, from the classical to the Brazilian music, its interpretation elevates the musical spirit of the listener…”

~Strings by Mail

“Alfredo Muro gave a masters performance of technique and a Genius level performance of a composer. His acoustic guitar playing was unamplified which seemed to me to add to the intimacy of the first set. Starting from the very first few notes i felt the world and all of its problems washed away by the beauty of his song selections and delicately delicious mastery of his instrument. To hear two full sets of his deep knowledge of the music of South American and Cuban masters played with passion and thoughtfulness was a sheer delight. During the second set, his total mastery of his guitar was elevated even further by his composer level genius that was clear to everyone in the room. “

~Dan Chinn, musician

“Muro has the rare combination of surpassing virtuosity and superb musicianship, and his playing is impossible to resist”

~Fred Dannen, New York Times, bestselling Author

“The music of Alfredo Muro elevates the guitar to a higher plane than most I’ve had an opportunity to hear. It is moody and melodic. It is richly eloquent as it tells the story of this instrument that is all -too- often hidden in the background in today’s music. This collection in particular, caresses our sense of musicality and inspires the beauty that is still very much a part of this world, despite our hectic life style and mounting responsibilities. I so enjoy listening to Alfredo’s guitar work as it brings me to that place that only really inspiring music can bring one. And when you realize that you’ve listened to the last piece on this CD, you want to hear it all again. And again. It feels good. Well done, my friend.”

~ Jose Feliciano

“Es tanto lo que se puede decir acerca de su talento y su calidad interpretativa que lo mejor es callar….Callar y escuchar sus credenciales sobre el escenario”

~ Luis Camarena, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“Wonderful virtuoso, sensitive artist and, among other things, a fine gentleman.”

~ Eric Bertoluzzi,
Executive Director, Englewood Cultural Arts Center

“He is a talented guitarist . . sensitive soul vibrates through the strings of his guitar. He will go very far in the arts.”

~Manuel Lopez Ramos

“Alfredo Muro brings much more than just strong technical talent to the stage. He brings an intense love for the music he chooses and performs with such great sensitivity and emotion. Mr. Muro has the rare ability to become the music, losing himself in it and enabling the audience to transcend their own experience and share his. While this is evident on his many recordings, It is in live performance where this manifests most strongly.” “I’ve attended many of Alfredo’s concerts, from intimate house concerts to packed concert halls and each time the music rises from where he sits and extends it’s embrace to those in attendance. It bows to our inner dancer, extends it’s hand and draws us under it’s spell. Sometime later we awaken to our own thundering applause, wondering how our hearts can be so full and our smiles so wide. This is how it’s supposed to be.”

~By Chuck Morrison, Master Luthier, Colorado

“Alfredo Muro’s guitar provides surging rhythm, melodic counterpoint and sometimes simply a sweet touch…”

~Chori Santiago, San Francisco Bay Area Critic

“Appreciated in the entire world, the Brazilian music owes its prestige not only to its creators, but to the musicians that love Brazilian music and lend it their talent. This is the case of Alfredo Muro, a fabulous Peruvian instrumentalist that, in this cd, offers us a refined brazilianism, with no accent. After listening to “Alma Brasileira” (Brazilian Soul), we are left with a desire to give him a standing ovation, to hug him, and to tell him in his ear: “Thank you very much”

~Carlos Alberto Afonso, Director of Toca do Vinicius Cultural Center, Brazil

“Alfredo Muro’s interpretation of “Verano Porteno” is a tango with attitude that ends in a slide whistle. The Peruvian-born local guitarist’s take on the 1964 piece by Argentine bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla, is perfect for stomping back and forth across a room with a lover or a rival. But at the end, the tension is released: Muro scrapes a string to give a high-pitched “zwheeee!” and the song ends abruptly. This is only the most obvious example of what carries Muro’s “Latin Impressions,” a recently released collection of South American folk, classical and jazz songs — it never takes itself too seriously. So, with two volumes down and three to go, why not do something familiar that, since it comes more naturally, can be made light and playful with an occasional surprising transition or loose and silly strum? Of course, these effects are subtle. But they make “Latin Impressions” self-aware, and allow it to be romantic without being cheesy and virtuosic without being over the top.”

~By Jason Simms, The Oregonian

“A scholar of Latin American styles, an adept practitioner of the classical repertoire for Spanish guitar and a master of Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Cuban rhythms, Muro has in recent years dedicated himself to Brazilian music. He plays all styles with skill and feeling, though; his attack precise and dramatic, his touch elegant, the effect both sophisticated and soulful. “Alma Brasileira, Volume II, Alfredo Muro, guitar. Muro is one of Portland’s finest musicians, especially as it pertains to Latin jazz. Here, he brings his vibrant sound out with a beautiful Latin sampler – ranging from sambas, waltzes, and other Brazilian styles – his nylon-stringed guitar at the forefront. Muro has always been a wonderful solo artist, and he gives himself plenty of room to show his technique and his innate sense of melody without accompaniment, as on the lovely ballad, “Minha Namorada,” where he begins with a lengthy guitar solo before the rhythm comes in. The Peruvian guitarist shows his range throughout this disc, the second of four dedicated to “Brazilian Soul.” From lush lullabies (“Abismo Das Rosas”) to solo rhythmics (“Lamentos do Morro”), to pensive takes on bossa nova (“Manha de Carnaval”), Muro runs the gamut of South American compositional favorites. Much time is focused on Muro’s solo pieces, but the strength of his quartet, with Carlton Jackson on drums, Brian Healey on bass, and Dave Fischer on percussion, gives even more life and depth to the songs. Muro is a Latin treasure in the Northwest and this disc shows his strengths and range.

~Jazzscene – CD review

“In July the music performance of Alfredo Muro Latin Ensemble, had a great successful. The concert “Una noche de cuerdas ritmicas” sold out. The audience was very enthusiastic enjoying the melodies that were interpreted with great virtuosity and talent”

Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano

“Alfredo Muro – The percussive rhythms of the samba and bossa nova bound from Alfredo Muro’s guitar. Join us as we take a musical journey to South America with a guitar virtuoso living right here in Portland.

~OPB ArtBeat