Carlos Paredes

Characterized by twelve strings arranged in paired courses and a compact frame, the Portuguese guitar yields a tone akin to that of the mandolin or Greek bouzouki. Carlos Paredes advances the instrument’s incisive resonance through a sensitive, even reserved manner that fuses longstanding customs with improvisational spark. Bassist Charlie Haden, himself a modest cultural figure in Portugal, compared this fresh method to the innovations of Ornette Coleman.