Never afraid to venture into different genres, Oscar Lopez is known as one of today's most daring artists, creating music without boundaries. 

His music is an open door, allowing him to take a free approach each time for his masterful improvisations, while infusing it with the passion that is his unique style. What may start as a Latin groove evolves over time, taking on many different forms with elements of blues, jazz, flamenco, rock, rhumba, and other flavors.

The Latin feel in his music is an important element for Lopez. Born in Santiago, Chile, Lopez moved to Canada in 1979 and now calls Calgary home. "My roots are here. I have adapted myself, learned the language and I am an active part of this society. Of course, all that I am I owe to my mother country -- she made me what I am today. There is always a strong Latin beat in my music, definitely, because that's who I am."

A cultural crossover suits Lopez's eclectic tastes and styles. "There has been so much music that has touched me. When I came to Canada I experimented with many types of bands. I believe this was an important process for me in my musical life. When I returned to playing the nylon string guitar, I brought all these elements back to it. I would bend a note and think, 'Hey! That works here, too.' This was the start of my fusion, establishing my own signature."

This global fusion has made Lopez a stand-out among world-class guitarists. Performing to sold-out audiences across the country, he has earned three Juno nominations (Canada's 'Grammy') in the Best Roots Recording, Best Global Recording, and Instrumentalist of the Year categories, has received an ARIA Award Nomination, and was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Prairie Music Awards. His earlier albums on Narada, HEAT and SEDUCTION, blazed to the Top 20 of Billboard's new age music chart and received widespread critical acclaim.

ARMANDO'S FIRE

Lopez's newest album is an example of his free-flowing approach.

ARMANDO'S FIRE is an album inspired by Lopez's inner voice. "My music is an extension of my soul and life experiences," Lopez explains, "and my albums are the product of this internal and external collaboration." ARMANDO'S FIRE captures the passion, gentleness, and fire within Lopez's soul and lets it loose through his fingertips. It debuted on the Billboard chart at #15 and earned Lopez a profile on the Billboard "Heatseekers" page.

Joining forces with some of the top players in Chicago including Calvin Rodgers (drums), Kevin Randolph (keyboards), Sharay Reed (bass), and Alejo Povedo (percussion), Lopez co-produced the album with Frayne T. Lewis.

ARMANDO'S FIRE has a groove that makes the tracks Frontiers, Gypsy Soul and Latino sizzle. Lopez shows his romantic side (Games of Love, Waiting For You) as well as a sentimental side (Chile, Nostalgia). "I love beautiful, gentle melodies, but I like to play with fire and speed, too -- to make my guitar speak back to me." And it speaks volumes on the Latin fusion of the title track Armando's Fire and Dance of the Sun.

ARMANDO'S FIRE is an eclectic journey into a cultural and musical exploration -- not to mention a lesson from Lopez in how to make an acoustic guitar touch your soul.