Strunz/Farah
Frontera
The Story
"Frontera", Strunz & Farah's 1984 critical favorite, brought the pair much noteriety. A roster of high calibre supporting musicians join the duo, including Luis Conte (percussion), Alex Acuna (drums), Randy Tico (bass), Eddie Del Barrio (keyboards), Steve Tavaglione (flute), Steve Kujala (flute), and Stanley Clarke (acoustic bass), among others. Complex and melodic compositions dominate, with the material crossing more into Middle Eastern territory than the bulk of Strunz & Farah's catalog. "Amritsar", in particular, features guest guitarist Omaya Alghanim and is chock full of blazing scales at Pentium speeds, as it outlines the spiritual center in India, a pool for the soul. "Reng" is another ear-opener, as the music explores rhythms and colors from Farah's native Iran.
The Music
| 05:55 | Quetzal | Instrumental |
| 05:18 | Zona Liberada | Instrumental |
| 05:28 | Reng | Instrumental |
| 04:19 | Cassiopeia | Instrumental |
| 04:40 | Rio Nuevo | Instrumental |
| 04:50 | Abrazo | Instrumental |
| 04:51 | Amritsar | Instrumental |
| 06:30 | The Dervish | Instrumental |
The Artists
| Jorge Strunz | Lloyd Baggs Acoustic Steel-String Guitar, 1967 Arcangel Fernandez Flamenco Guitar on "Amritsar", Takamine Classical Guitar on "Abrazo", Production, Descriptive Notes |
| Ardeshir Farah | James Geoodall Acoustic Steel-String Guitar, Ovation Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Production |
| Steve Tavaglione | Flute |
| Eduardo Del Barrio | Yamaha DX9 and OB8 Synthesizers |
| Alex Acuna | Drums, Percussion |
| Miguel Cruz | Congas, Bongo Solo, TImbales |
| Ron Wagner | Marimba |
| Luis Conte | Ocarina, Whistle, Timbales, Percussion, Cabasa, Caxixi, Miscellaneous Percussion, Woodblocks, Congas, Bongos |
| Randy Tico | Fretless Acoustic Bass, Fretless Electric Bass, Electric Basses |
| Manoochehr Sadeghi | Santur |
| Majid Ghorbani | Dombak, Darbukah |
| Walfredo Reyes | Bells, Miscellaneous Percussion, Gongs, Windchimes |
| Omaya Alghanium | 1963 Arcangel Fernandez Flamenco Guitar, Production Consulting, Co-production on "Amritsar" |
| Steve Kujala | Flute |
| Aris Quiroga | Classical Guitar |
| Stanley Clarke | Acoustic Bass on "Amritsar" |
| Carl Lange | Engineering, Mixing |
| Danny Kopelson | Engineering |
| Mike Herbick | Engineering |
| George Horn | Mastering |
| Phil Carroll | Art Direction |
| Kathlyn Powell | Cover Concept, Illustration |
| Recorded at Studio II and Indigo Ranch, Malibu and at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley.
Mixed at Studio II and Indigo Ranch, Malibu. Digital master tape prepared at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley. |
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