" . . . a brilliant classical guitarist" -Cadence

" . . . a stunning virtuoso" -Jazziz

"Fareed Haque is one of the most talented guitarists/composers on the music scene today." -The New York City Tribune

Guitar virtuoso and Blue Note recording artist Fareed Haque enjoys a career that spans the spectrum of musical styles. Born in 1963 to a Pakistani father and a Chilean mother, extensive travels, especially long stays in Spain, France, Iran, Pakistan and Chile, exposed him to different musics from a very early age. This natural eclecticism has become the hallmark of Fareed's music, and he has established himself as one of the most innovative composer/musicians currently on the international scene. The 1981 Recipient of North Texas State University's Jazz Guitar Scholarship, Haque spent a year studying with renowned jazz guitarist and pedagogue Jack Peterson. Fareed's growing interest in the classical guitar led him to transfer to Northwestern University, where he completed his studies in classical guitar under David Buch, John Holmquist and Anne Waller.

Moving easily between jazz and classical guitar, Fareed's versatility has created a demand for him with prominent jazz and classical artists. A legend in Chicago jazz circles since his student days at Northwestern University, Fareed has performed or recorded with such legends as Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Holland, Bob James, Sting, Cassandra Wilson, Javon Jackson, Joe Zawinul, Kurt Elling, Lester Bowie, Arturo Sandoval, Nigel Kennedy, Edgar Meyer, Bob James, Joe Henderson, Kahil el Zabar, Defunckt, and Ramsey Lewis.

As a classical guitarist, Fareed has performed as soloist and accompanist with Nigel Kennedy, Robert Conant, Edgar Meyer, Stephen Stubbs, Frank Bungarten, members of the Vermeer Quartet and many symphony orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. He is an active transcriber of baroque, as well as South American music and has had numerous modern works dedicated to him.

In addition to being a featured artist on WFMT's Dame Myra Hess concert series and Live from Studio One, Fareed has twice been selected Talent Deserving Wider Recognition in Downbeat magazine. Fareed has also been featured on WTTW's ArtBeat, Ben Sidran's New Visions, Michelob Presents Sunday Night with David Sanborn on NBC, his own Lonesome Pines Special for PBS, and on BET cable jazz channel. Recent festival appearances include Cordoba international, Caracas, Go'ttingen, and Rantucci.

In 1989, Fareed joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University, where he currently holds an associate professorship in jazz and classical guitar studies, (but don't ever call him "Professor Haque," or he'll smash you over the head with an MXR distortion -plus).

In the jamworld his style and musicianship has expanded even further, and playing with Kai Eckhardt, Alan Hertz, and Eric Levy in Garaj Mahal, three masters of their respective instruments, there are truly no limits on how, what (and when!) he can compose and perform.