Faraz Anwar

Infobox musical artist
Name = Faraz Anwar


Img_capt = Faraz Anwar playing live.
Img_size =
Landscape = Yes
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1977|7|15|mf=y
Karachi, Pakistan
Died =
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Progressive metal, Jazz, Instrumental rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1989-present
Label =
Associated_acts = Mizraab (1996-Present)
Dusk (1994-2004)
URL = [http://www.farazanwar.com www.farazanwar.com]
Notable_instruments =

Faraz Anwar (Urdu: فراز انور) (born 15 July, 1977) is a Pakistani Progressive metal guitarist known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab.

Biography

Faraz Anwar was born on 15 July, 1977 in Karachi. In 6th grade he decided to pick-up a guitar after seeing a video of guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen on TV. Faraz got his education from St. Paul and St. Andrews, but left after his matriculation because he wanted to pursue a career in music.

Session Playing

Faraz Anwar started off his career in 1990 as a session guitarist playing for many different musicians. Some of the musicians that he worked for are as follow:

Aakash, Arsh, Awaz, Adnan Afaq, Ali Haider, Arid Zone, Athar Ali, Alamgir, Circle, Collage, Deciples, Dominos, Faizi, Faakhir, Fariha Pervaiz, Final Cut, Fringe Benefits, Goonj, Hadiqa Kiani, Hassan Ali, Haroon, Heart Communication, Humainyo Naz, Imik, John Mall, Junoon, Junaid Jamshed, Khalid Waheed, Komal Rizvi, Live Sketches, Lucky Ali, Masood Aley, Nadeem Kazmi, Nadeem Jafri, Najam Sheraz, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Overdrive, Power House, Rahil, Sajjad Ali, Sanwal, Seema, Shargeel Khan, Shahzad Mughal, Shiraz Upal, Strings, Uzma Shah, Vital Signs, Waqar Ali, Yatagan.

Own Projects/Bands

Mizraab (Pop-Rock/Hard Rock, Progressive metal)
Dusk (Black metal)
Yasir & Faraz (Eastern Neo Classical)
Imran Raza & Faraz Anwar (Classic Rock)

Accolades/Achievements

* Scholarship from Berklee in 1996
* Berklee Outstanding Musical Achievement Award '96
* First Guitar Player and Second Pakistani Musician to release an album Internationally.
* "King of Guitars in Pakistan" quoted by Allan Holdsworth
* Only musician who has played for more than 50 different artists in Pakistan.

Discography

Abstract Point Of View (2001)

His solo album, "Abstract Point of View" got him known internationally. It was released on "Gnarly Geezer Records" in 2001 owned by the legendary guitar player Allan Holdsworth. According to Faraz, "It's nothing but me. This album is a part of me. Sometimes it's aggressive and at times it's romantic".fact|date=July 2008 And the thing that gave him utmost satisfaction was the fact that Allan Holdsworth appreciated him. He is a self-proclaimed disciple of Allan. Getting the appreciation of someone, whom you consider as your inspirational teacher is something. This album got him a place among Gnarly Geezer Artists. These are all Jazz-Fusion artists. Jazz is considered to be the most difficult genre of music. This is a solo album in the real sense of the word. He wrote all the music and sequenced all the tracks himself. It was recorded in DFS in just four months. He hasn't played this album live yet. When asked why, his answer was "There are no artists who can play live, the sequenced bass and drums on the album."fact|date=July 2008

Track listing

#"Through the Passage of Time" – 12:44
#"Maze" – 4:53
#"Prophet" – 6:56
#"Don't Let Your Spirit Die" – 5:30
#"Last Summer" – 4:46
#"Why?" – 10:28

Untitled (Internet Release)

This album was recorded in 1995-96 and was released by Mizraab's fan site in 2004. Faraz Anwar recorded this album when he was 16 years old. The release of this album in the 90s was impossible and that is why the album couldn't release.

Time passed and Faraz Anwar's style of music kept chaning and he decided not to release this album. But in 2004 the fans borrowed the album from him and released it on their website.

Track listing

#"Don't Know" – 6:32
#"Show Me the Way" – 5:30
#"Reason" – 3:57
#"Hearts of Darkness" – 5:28
#"Spanish Eyes" – 2:27
#"Strong Believe" – 2:42
#"Where Am I?" – 4:54
#"Invasion" – 4:35
#"Roshni" – 4:58
#"Aankhon Main" – 4:21
#"No Where to Go" – 5:50

Videos

Faraz Anwar - Through The Passage Of Time
Directed by: Babar Sheikh

Recorded in 2001, the video was released by Gnarly Geezer Records on its website and the video comes with the album CD. Concept of the video is very slick and portrays the life of a human being from birth to death.

Dial Up Version: [http://mizraabianz.com/videos/ttpot/ttpot_low.avi Click Here]

Broadband Version: [http://mizraabianz.com/videos/ttpot/ttpot_hi.avi Click Here]

External links

* [http://www.farazanwar.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.farazanwarfan.tk Official Fan Site]