Eduardo Falú has been played on NTS in shows including Phil's Jazz Dis-Junction, featured first on 17 June 2018. Songs played include Zamba De Vargas, Milonga Uruguaya and Fuga del Sol.

Eduardo Falú as an artist almost defies description, being one of the twentieth century giants amongst guitarists who actually 'changed' the guitar – in the same tradition as Barrios and Segovia - as well as possessing a beautiful baritone voice and a composer of a modern folkloric repertoire. A friend went to a concert at Whigmore Hall in London in the late seventies. Attending were John Williams, the jazz guitarist Barney Kessel, and every other jazz guitarist of note in London, such is the esteem in which he is held by the best.

Falu was born in El Galpón, Salta in Argentina on July 7, 1923, his parents Juan and Fada being immigrants from Syria. In Salta, the great wellspring of Argentine folkloric music, he met the poet Jaime Dávalos, who set his words to music. Largely self-taught, Falú developed his knowledge through study of the nineteenth century masters and by private study by the prominent Argentine composer, Carlos Gustanivo.

He began his professional career in Buenos Aires in 1945, the poet César Perdiguero being lyricist for several of his compositions. He produced his first LP in 1951, and in 1959 the LP ‘Falú in Paris.’ Later he travelled to Japan, the US, and Spain, France and England, and then the world. He has composed more than 100 pieces, including the classics: ‘Las Golondrinas’ (The Swallows), the zambas ‘La Candelaria’ and ‘La Cuartelera,’ in addition to ‘Argentine Suite.’

Apart from Perdiguero and Davalos, almost all of Argentina’s greatest poets have put words to his music, Gorge Borges, Leon Benaros, Manuel Castilla, Alberico Mansilla and others. He is also the most charming and humble of people, now spending his time between Salta and Buenos Aires.

Brian Taaffe