This album by guitarists Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah showcases their amazing skill as instrumentalists and composers. Clearly, Strunz & Farah are flamenco masters, but they do not just play Spanish music. Given that Strunz is from Costa Rica and Farah is Iranian, one gets a sense of how diverse this music can be.
The first third of ZONA TORRIDA contains compositions firmly rooted in the Spanish tradition. This is exemplified by the opening track, "De Luna," which features some exquisite interplay between Strunz & Farah. However, as the album unfolds, the duo experiments with other ethnic flavors. Supported by a variety of percussion instruments and strings, "Milieu De L'ete" invokes the sound and style of French gypsy music. Similarly, "Tone Painting" uses a myriad of suspended chords to give it a jazzy feel. "Kereshmeh" moves in an altogether different direction, embracing the music and culture of the Middle East. Overall, this release is fascinating for two reasons. First, the level of virtuosity displayed by Strunz & Farah is simply jaw-dropping. Second, the repertoire varies to encompass many rich and compelling musical traditions.