Juan Carranza

Juan Jose Carranza was first introduced to flamenco as a teenager in New York City when he met a gypsy musician who taught him a complex guitar technique known as rasqueado. This chance meeting ignited Carranza's passion for flamenco and eventually prompted him to seek the life of a traveling musician.

Returning to Costa Rica, his country of origin, Carranza lived on the beach while performing in bars and restaurants. His travels took him throughout Central America, Mexico and Europe including Germany, Holland and Spain.

Along the way, Carranza learned from encounters with other flamenco players and gypsies and honed his skills as a musician. Over the years, Carranza has developed a highly percussive right-hand strumming technique, which reflects the influence of Latin American rhythms and his role as a soloist and improviser. —Courtesy Calabash Music