Ciro Hurtado

by Craig HarrisDespite emigrating to the United States in 1975, Peru-born guitarist Ciro Hurtado has continued to be one of the finest performers of traditional Latin music. A founding member, musical director and producer of Huayucaltia, Hurtado has balanced work with the group with solo preformances and recordings.While The L.A. Times called him, an elegantly polished guitarist, who can evoke flourishes of flamenco or jazzy staccato runs with consummate ease, Musician magazine claimed that he combines the dexterity and elegance of the Spanish classicists with the romantic imperative of South America. After studying guitar with Augusto Portugal in Peru, Hurtado sharpened his skills at the Guitar Institute Of Technology in Los Angeles. In the late-1980s, Hurtado performed and recorded with Strunz And Farah. Hurtados first two solo albums were released on the ROM label. The Magic Hour, released in 1991, featured musical adaptations of the poetry of Latin American poets, including Nicholas Guillen, Carlos Jose Guadamuz and Adolfo Marti Fuente, sung by Hurtados wife and longtime collaborator Cindy Harding. Hurtados second album, Tales From Home, released in 1993, was extremely eclectic with band arrangements, featuring L.A. session players, two solo pieces and a tune, Magic Mist, featuring Hardings vocals. Released in 1995 on his own label, Guitarra, Hurtados third album, showcased his solo guitar playing and ranged from original tunes to reworkings of Peruvian folk songs and a piece by J.S. Bach.