Strunz & Farah

Frontera is an intriguing effort by a duo whose music would unfortunately quickly turn into flaccid new age mush. Clearly influenced by the likes of Al DiMeola and the ECM stable, Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah start from the mellowest side of post-fusion '70s jazz, add world music forms suggested by their varied upbringings (Strunz was born in Costa Rica and raised around the world as the son of a diplomat; Farah was born in Iran and educated in England), and then incorporate a few hints of the sound that Windham Hill Records would soon turn into clichéd mush. Luckily, this time out those troubling hints of over-slickness are but a minor flaw, and the two guitarists enthusiastically and sensitively explore a variety of mostly Latin rhythmic and melodic styles. The highlight, however, is the Persian-flavored flamenco "The Dervish," an intriguing blend of European and Middle Eastern forms with a much stronger rhythmic base than most new age music ever manages. Frontera won't change the mind of anyone predisposed to dislike modern instrumental music, but it's not at all bad. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide