An Intimate Portrait of One of this World's Great Guitarists
Gypsy Guitars | Kula, UpCountry Maui, Hawaii | 03/17/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"at looong last,
we are treated to an intimate glimpse into the more personal, exotic & ecstatic musical world of Costa Rican-born, Gypsy-influenced, Spanish guitar virtuoso, Jorge Strunz
w/ all the beauty of composition & exceptional technique of execution we have enjoyed for several decades w/ his world music Spanish Guitar duo, Strunz & Farah...
the music is consistently gorgeous yet profound while reflecting the rare talent of one of this world's truly great living guitar talents !!!
the production is crystal clear yet warm & resonant throughout this diary of beauty-full guitar compositions...
simply, a wonder-full release for 2010 & one of the best guitar recordings you'll ever hear.
OLE !!!!!!!!!!!!"
Neotropical Nocturnes
John W. Fowler | Santa Monica, CA United States | 04/18/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I concur with the Editorial Review and that by "Gypsy Guitars". Anyone who takes acoustic guitar seriously simply cannot be without this album. Nothing resembling the music on it is available anywhere else. After years of studying every serious form of guitar to the point of mastery that allows it actually to be performed professionally on the highest level, Jorge Strunz has created a marvelous new genre. It is not "classical" guitar, although the compositional techniques that gave birth to it make use of lessons learned from the giants of the baroque, classical, romantic, and modern periods. It is not flamenco, although it expresses great passion, energy, and gypsy-like abandon. It is not "Latin Jazz" or any other kind of jazz. It is a new genre, but one that requires no period of adjustment, no learning to appreciate; its beauty and charm are immediately accessible. In fact, it may be several new genres! The recording quality and performance technique meet the exacting standards of perfection that we have learned to expect from Jorge Strunz's previous albums; that is merely the launch point. Nor is it just a matter of breathtaking scale velocity with crystal-clear articulation, although excellence in that area has become associated with Jorge Strunz's playing; changes in tempo and note value are among the many facets of musical variation, and the faster moments are well balanced with slow sections of lyrical legato, which also require top-notch technique to perform as gracefully as they are here. There are moments of sinuous modulation, as in "Velvet Midnight", where both scale and rhythm evolve in new ways. There are irresistible pulses that invite dancers to participate, as in "La Finca". In short, every piece features its own special treasures, and the collection establishes a new stratum in the highest realm of guitar apotheoses. Neotropical Nocturnes"
A treat for anyone who loves acoustic guitar
Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 04/16/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Neotropical Nocturnes is a music CD chiefly inspired by tropical Latin America. Master of the Spanish guitar Jorge Strunz (who happens to be one half of the acclaimed guitar duo Strunz & Farah) brings together a tribute to the music of his roots, crafted with minimal accompaniment. The result is a treat for anyone who loves acoustic guitar, evoking Latin American tradition performed with Strunz's uniquely magical touch. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Tocar la Noche" (4:43), "Velvet Midnight" (5:45), "De Alicia" (5:15), "Idilios" (5:54), "Teatro del Tiempo" (4:35), "La Finca" (3:51), "Zambriya" (4:29), "Cielo Playero" (4:20), "Los Temporales" (4:36), and "Cadenitas" (3:41).
"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
