Reviews

REVIEWS:

VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE – JULY 2017

The combo of two acoustic guitars and what could be considered modern-day standards seems on first blush like a recipe for a pretty common record. With a duo as talented and imaginative as Liza Carbe and J.P. Durand, though, it’s not plain in any way.

The real beauty in this album, aside from the obvious talents of the duo, are familiar tunes getting a onceover. Not content to let “Blackbird” fall into acoustic cliche-land, they state the familiar melody, but then solo gloriously over it. Same goes for the old warhorse, “Scarborough Fair”, breathing new life into the song with rolling minor chords and punchy soloing.

They wind their way through familiar tunes like “Isn’t She Lovely”, “Wichita Lineman”, and “Paint It Black” in much the same way, infusing them with flamenco flourishes, dazzling improvisations, and emotional readings of the familiar melodies.

There are also several originals written by the duo that maintain the same integrity and surprise. The guitarists know each other’s steps and the melodies and solos in the original tunes are instantly memorable and hummable.

This album is one of the year’s surprise delights.

AMAZON.COM – MAY 2016

IF YOU WANT EXQUISITE ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING, CHOOSE CARBE AND DURAND

Carbe and Durand are simply excellent guitarists. Their duo album, A BRIDGE BETWEEN, is a real treat. The music is just two acoustic guitars, nothing else, and it features exquisite picking and playing. But what makes the album even more delectable are the tunes — ten melodies from classic pop and rock tunes from the past half-century plus three originals.

These two musicians also play in the popular recording and touring world-music group Incendio with Jim Stubblefield. But additionally Liza Carbe has played with the all-female Platinum-selling rock group Vixen, former Santana singer Leon Patillo, and Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsay Buckingham. Meanwhile, JP Durand has had his own rock bands Pretzel Logic and Book of Storms.

On their duet recording, Carbe and Durand do their own unique two-guitar-only instrumental arrangements of classic pop and rock songs from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties. Whether the listener knows the original versions or not does not matter, because these are great melodies that translate wonderfully to acoustic guitar. For example, this duo does extraordinary versions of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Town,” “Blackbird” (from The Beatles’ catalog), “Wichita Lineman” (a hit for Glen Campbell), “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” (a big chart-maker by Tears For Fears) and “Fragile” (a Sting tune). Completely enjoyable for listeners of all ages.

COMARCASNAREDE – JULY 2016

Liza Carbe and JP Durand are two acoustic guitarists who have spent many years working together, besides being partnera they are cofounders along with Jim Stubblefield of the well-known group Incendio. But outside that training they make individual works and have collaborations and also formed the duo that presents this new work entitled “A Bridge Between.”

Here we find songs and well-known themes performed with acoustic guitar, since we can find versions of songs like the classic “Time After Time” popularized by Cyndi Lauper, or “Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones or Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Town” and other classics.

In summary, this is a joy for lovers of acoustic guitar as these two great guitarists recreate big themes with their guitars in an excellent way, so there is nothing better than to relax and enjoy

FACING NORTH – A COMMUNITY RESOURCE – JULY 2016

Carbe, Durand and Jim Stubblefield are co-founders of the world guitar group Incendio. This second CD from guitarists Liza Carbe and Jean-Pierre Durand presents a mix of covers and originals from the duo’s concert work offering a range of styles and sounds. Carbe’s classical and fingerstyle rhythm work provide the foundation for Durand’s bluesy leads. These are finely polished presentation of wonderful songs.

The album opens with the joyous title track “A Bridge Between.” The duo demonstrates the perfect timing and coordination of a long-term musical partnership. Cover songs include Time After Time, Scarborough Fair, Classical Gas, Paint It Black, Blackbird, Isn’t She Lovely, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Fragile, and Crazy Train. Original tunes include A Thought for You, Mountain Song, and the title track.

This is a fantastic, low-key album with a great selection of songs and top-flight musicianship. The arrangements are clean and clear. The recording of the acoustic guitars is flawless and well-balanced. The cover songs may seem like an odd mix of picks, but they demonstrate a range of different textures and styles. It’s surprising how perfectly it all comes together.

This CD passed my “play in the car” test with flying colors. I was enchanted by the songs chosen and the sheer delight the guitarists take in presenting them. It’s a wonderful album for relaxing and cruising down the road.

FOLK WORLD – JULY 2016

Los Angeles based guitar duo Liza Carbe and Jean-Pierre Durand are musical partners as well as a married couple. Together they recorded 3 original tunes and 10 instrumental cover versions for their new album.

The self-penned title track is a laid-back beautifully arranged tune followed by their tender but virtuoso rendition of Cindy Lauper’s 1983 hit “Time after Time.” The two fine guitar players tackle the traditional folk tune “Scarborough Fair” as well as the two main musical hit producers of the 60ies, the Rolling Stones song “Paint it Black” received a touch of Flamenco while the Beatles cover “Blackbird” was arranged as a finger-style piece. It took them 20 years to record their first co-written tune, “Mountain Song,” a melancholic and rocky track. On the final Ozzy Osbourne hit “Crazy Train” (1980) they rock their acoustic guitars. For their original tunes they used steel string guitars while the cover versions were all recorded with nylon string guitars.

Carbe and Durand are part of Jim Stubblefield’s band Incendio and similar to Stubblefield’s last solo album they make instrumental music, in their case pure acoustic.

JOURNEYSCAPES RADIO – JULY 2016

Liza Carbe and JP Durand are perhaps best known as two of the co-founders (along with Jim Stubblefield) of the world-guitar band Incendio. On the duo’s album “A Bridge Between”, Carbe and Durand offer up three original compositions plus ten cover songs of stylistically varied pop and rock classics that span several decades, rendering them entirely as solo acoustic guitar pieces.

The album opens with the title track “A Bridge Between”, an original composition that strums along melodically in a joyful tone. This breezy and carefree tune is evocative of driving through the countryside in the open air with its overall Americana feel. The duo’s acoustic rendition of “Scarborough Fair”, a traditional English ballad made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, is one of my favorite pieces on the album which works particularly well here. Carbe and Durand have preserved the hazy mystique of the original composition while adding an extra dose of passion employed by lovely chord progressions and unique twists on the melody. “A Thought for You” is both the fourth track on the album as well as the second original composition that seems to take the listener back on the road with its forward movement and outdoorsy appeal. One piece I found rather surprising as having been quite effectively interpreted on acoustic guitar is the Stevie Wonder hit, “Isn’t She Lovely”. Here the duo jazzes up the composition with a sophisticated allure that would deem it fitting for dancing under the moonlight to. “Mountain Song” is another one of the album’s three original compositions that bears an undercurrent of folk-rock and moves along at a melodic pace. Along with “Scarborough Fair”, the pair’s rendition of the Sting classic “Fragile” left me with the greatest impression of all. This song similarly works especially well as a solo acoustic piece, with its nocturnal romance and Mediterranean flair that would seem a fitting accompaniment for an evening at a quaint caf�. Lastly, the pair’s rendition of Ozzy Osourne’s “Crazy Train” makes for both an interesting album closer and follow-up to the former elegant composition, as the recognizably classic-rock tune jams along boldly and straightforwardly.

Other covers of classic hits featured on “A Bridge Between” include songs like Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”, The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, which variably work to greater or lesser degrees as solo acoustic renditions. Enjoyably diverse and overall compelling, fans of any number of the original compositions along with aficionados of acoustic guitar will likely appreciate the duo’s interpretations of some of their favorite songs, or perhaps savor a few of these classics in a whole new light. ~Candice Michelle

KEYS AND CHORDS – MAY 2016

AN ALBUM BY A DUO, HUSBAND AND WIFE, THAT IS FILLED WITH ACOUSTIC GUITAR TUNES INCLUDING A LOT OF COVERS

The couple, Liza Carbe and JP Durand, are two guitarists who have explored the musical worlds of classical and blues for more than 20 years. Together with Jim Stubblefield (who has been discussed here) they are part of the group Incendio. Since 2000 they have been playing live, and their compositions were played on TV and in movies. However, for their duo project Liza puts aside her bass and takes up her first love, the acoustic guitar. She has played guitar since she was eight, and played in the rock band Vixen, and also next to former Santana vocalist Leon Patillo. In 1993 she met JP, and played with his Steely Dan cover band Pretzel Logic. Shortly after they married. JP comes from the world of rock and blues. He is of Peruvian descent, but grew up in LA. On their new album they bring both traditional songs and new compositions. So you get a lot of covers such as Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”, Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair,” The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”, The Beatles’ “Blackbird”, Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule the World”, Sting’s “Fragile” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Town.” This is an album that will surely delight the acoustic guitar lovers!

CARBE AND DURAND TAKE POP CLASSICS AND MAKE THEM ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTALS – APRIL 2016

AN ALBUM BY A DUO, HUSBAND AND WIFE, THAT IS FILLED WITH ACOUSTIC GUITAR TUNES INCLUDING A LOT OF COVERS

There is an excellent new album, A BRIDGE BETWEEN, by the acoustic guitar duo Carbe and Durand. The music is very enjoyable because they do their own instrumental arrangements of classic pop and rock songs. And they do it all with just two acoustic guitars (no other instruments to distract from the picking). For example, this duo does wonderful versions of “Isn’t She Lovely” (originally by Stevie Wonder), “Wichita Lineman” (one of many Sixties hits for Glen Campbell), “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” (the one that put Tears For Fears on the map) and a solo tune by Sting called “Fragile.” Liza Carbe and JP Durand also wrote three originals for the album and those sound just as good as the oldies. This is wonderful music, perfect for all age groups.

MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS NETWORK – APRIL 2016

Carbe and Durand is an acoustic-guitar duo that rips it up one moment, plays it soft-and-slow the next, and always has their audiences on their feet applauding at the end because these musicians give the listeners what they want…..high-quality entertainment, lots of familiar melodies and stunning guitar playing. All of this is evident on their new album, A Bridge Between.

For the past 20 years these two guitarists, Liza Carbe and JP Durand, have built musical bridges between numerous genres that range from classical guitar to blues, from pop music to rock’n’roll, from world-fusion to nuevo-flamenco, from full ensemble performances to their warm stripped-down twin acoustic guitar offerings. Not only a professional partnership, but also a married couple, these two musicians share a common passion. They very much love to play their guitars, and they do it constantly at concerts and in the studio.

Carbe and Durand are best-known as co-founders, along with guitarist Jim Stubblefield, of the acclaimed genre-bending instrumental “world guitar” group Incendio which has released nine best-selling albums and two DVDs available internationally. The group has toured regularly since 2000 and has built a large and loyal following.

But in between Indendio recording sessions and tours, Carbe and Durand have also pursued a separate career. As composers, they have made a name for themselves in Hollywood by writing music heard in an astounding variety of television shows and feature films, from the blockbuster comedy movie “Bridesmaids” to TV programs such as “Law and Order” and “Burn Notice” among countless others. In addition, as a duo with usually just the two of them playing acoustic guitars, Carbe and Durand have performed many concerts. Audiences enthralled with the duo’s performances have repeatedly asked if the music that was being played could be purchased. With this impetus, Carbe and Durand decided to make a live-in-the-studio album representative of their concerts. The result is A Bridge Between which features three original compositions along with their crowd-pleasing acoustic-guitar arrangements of beloved classic melodies from the pop charts of the last half-century.

A Bridge Between is available as a CD or as digital downloads from a variety of online sales sites such as CDbaby, Amazon, iTunes, eMusic and many others. More information about the group and their music is available at their website carbeanddurand.com. Internationally if their music is not easily available in your territory, contact their website about purchasing.

Carbe and Durand have created amazing acoustic-guitar instrumental versions of songs with well-known melodies such as Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” (inspired by Luc Sylvain and Bireli Lagrene’s version), The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” (Durand: “We thought to have some fun giving it a rhumba-flamenco treatment.”) and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Town” (Durand: “We like to find ways to rock out on acoustics. It started as a tribute to Randy Rhodes, but we never expected it to become so popular with our audiences.”).

Several of the cover tunes were specifically written for acoustic guitar, but Carbe and Durand take the recognizable melodies off into new places with their two-part playing. “Scarborough Fair” is a traditional folk tune popularized by Simon & Garfunkel. Carbe says, “I remember singing and playing this back in college. It always amazes me how a good melody can live on 350 years.” “Classical Gas” is one of the few acoustic-guitar instrumentals to ever crack the Top 40 pop charts (Mason Williams, 1968). “This one lends itself to Liza’s classical technique,” explains Durand. They also tackle The Beatles’ acoustic “Blackbird.” “It’s a great finger-style piece that works well for two guitars. The Paul McCartney melody-line is so active and beautiful,” states Carbe.

The duo show their versatility by including Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” (Carbe: “We love the way this swings, and the groove.”), the Jimmy Webb-penned Glen Campbell hit “Wichita Lineman” (Durand: “All my life every time this song came on the radio I had to stop whatever I was doing and listen. It’s near perfect.”), Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” (Carbe: “At first our audiences always seem a bit shocked and amazed by our rendition, but they end up loving it.”), and Sting’s “Fragile” (Carbe: “I enjoy soloing on this piece, and the brooding, melancholy atmosphere resonates with me.”).

But in addition to all of the classic melodies that have become standards in our culture, Carbe and Durand show why their own music is so often used for Hollywood soundtracks. They open the album with an original, the title tune, which, Carbe says, “took us both to a peaceful place,” or, as Durand puts it, “like a big comfy chair because the music is both wistful and comforting.” Another original, “A Thought For You,” is a bittersweet creation because it serves as a tribute to a departed friend, guitarist Larry Weber, who played with Carbe in a band called Red Van Go. They borrowed Weber’s Lowden guitar to play on the track to help capture his spirit. Their third composition on the album is “Mountain Song,” the first piece of music they ever wrote together from 20 years ago. “Some music just has to wait for its moment to be recorded,” says Carbe. These originals were recorded on steel-string guitars instead of the nylon-string ones used on the rest of the album.

Liza Carbe (pronounced lee’-zuh car-bay) brings a wealth of musical knowledge, guitar discipline and performance experience to the duo. A guitarist from the age of eight, she went on to obtain her degree in classical guitar from Cal State Northridge. After college she found herself serving two masters — classical guitar and singing by day, and playing rock’n’roll bass at night. Soon she was traveling the world playing in the all-female Platinum-selling rock group Vixen followed by a tour backing up former Santana singer Leon Patillo. During her stint playing guitar in Lindsay Buckingham’s touring band, she met Durand. Shortly thereafter they began making music together and were married. Soon they were writing background music for “Entertainment Tonight,” and that music eventually went into the general Paramount music library and started to be used extensively in many different movies and TV shows. Carbe has produced or co-produced more than 50 albums, and she has not only composed for television, but also played on and produced many TV music segments. Additionally she began playing bass with the Jim Stubblefield Group that would eventually, with the addition of Durand, morph into Incendio. But despite her expertise in playing bass with Incendio as well as numerous earlier rock acts, she always kept her classical guitar technique up with practice, library music recording and lessons with Jorge Strunz from the famed Strunz and Farah. Now Carbe is excited to return to her first instrument, the acoustic nylon-string guitar, which is an integral part of the Carbe and Durand sound.

Durand comes from the world of rock and the blues. Raised in West Los Angeles, he embraced both rawness of punk rock as well as rocking guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson. However, Durand is also of Peruvian descent, so part of his upbringing included listening to artists such as Trio Los Panchos, Los Morochucos and even Julio Iglesias. Durand got his degree in economics from UC Berkeley before working in the music industry at MCA Records, and later at Spanish-language television (the powerful Univision and Telemundo networks where he assisted in producing live music events including “Fiesta Broadway”). Durand playing in a variety of rock bands over the years, including his Steely Dan cover group, Pretzel Logic, that also included Carbe at one point. They later formed the band Book of Storms. Some of their electric and acoustic made-for-television music was packaged under the name Carbe-Durand as a limited edition CD, Sketches. Eventually Durand joined Incendio, a group where he is able to incorporate his love of South American traditional and pop music with rock, jazz and world influences.

“After all our experiences in the music business — composing, touring, playing rock or world music, producing pieces for film and TV — it is extremely refreshing and satisfying to strip our sound down to just two acoustic guitars and play music that we love and that audiences obviously connect with,” states Durand.

MIDWEST RECORD – APRIL 2016

If something feels familiar about this guitar duo it might be because they are 2/3s of the guitar group Incendio. Hitting that inevitable point where they want to do some things that don’t fit into the guitar group’s format, the married pair of axe players veer off onto a side road to make a personal album that’s loaded with cover tunes they easily make their own. With a thriving career in Hollywood studio to feed their other creative outlets, they play music that doesn’t come from passion driven by hunger but a base of appreciation that their ‘day job’ gives them the freedom to follow their muses. An album of lovely playing the casual listener could mistake for a gift shop album, this duo imbues the set with so much more. The casual listener can enjoy it on its face but the acoustic guitar fan will know this is a slice of nirvana powered by some serious chops. Killer stuff throughout.

MINOR 7TH – SEPTEMBER 2016

With resumes that include writing for numerous films and TV shows as well as founding the instrumental world fusion band Incendio, Liza Carbe and J.P. Durand have something of a Midas touch when it comes to the fretboard. Their new CD, A Bridge Between, is no exception. In an effort to record some of the pieces that make their live shows so breathtaking, Care & Durand present two original composition and an impressive variety covers ranging from Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas” to Ozzy Osborne’s’ “Crazy Train.” The overall focus is sonic pleasure, but the skill and artistry of these guitarists simply oozes through each performance. Whether it is the brilliant arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely, the up-tempo version of Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman”, the Flamenco infused Rolling Stone Classic “Paint it Black” or rollicking inviting title track, it is understood that these Carbe and Durand have a chemistry and musical verve that creates an exquisite auditory experience. James Filkins

MUSIC DISCUSSION – APRIL 2016

CARBE AND DURAND PROVE TO BE TWO GREAT ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTAL GUITARISTS

The duo Carbe and Durand make music that is just plain fun to listen to. You should check out their debut album, A BRIDGE BETWEEN. They are both acoustic guitar players, and that is all the music is, just two acoustic guitarists. But what a sound!

They do their own acoustic instrumental versions of a whole bunch of rock’n’roll classics, guaranteed to get every listener to tap their feet. Check out the uptempo version of The Rolling Stones’ PAINT IT BLACK, the mellow swing of the Cyndi Lauper classic TIME AFTER TIME, or their acoustic rocking take on the Ozzy Osbourne tune CRAZY TOWN. Also included are three Carbe and Durand originals.

Apparently they road-tested the music playing as a duo and it went over extremely well, but members of the audience would ask afterwards if they could buy it which inspired the duo to get in the studio and lay it down. JP Durand has always played in rock groups and worked at record companies, and Liza Carbe toured with Lindsay Buckingham and Vixen. Then Liza and JP joined with another guitarist, Jim Stubblefield, and started the successful group Incendio. But when that full-band is not touring and recording, Carbe and Durand like to work as a duo which is what led to this project. This is exciting, enjoyable, effervescent music well worth checking out.

ONE WORLD MUSIC – 2016

Being a bit of an Incendio fan, it’s a great pleasure to be asked to review this album, Carbe and Durand are part of that amazing band of musicians along with Jim Stubblefield, but here as a couple and as artists, we are blessed with an album of some of the smoothest tunes your ever likely to hear.

The opener is the title track, I love it when an artist does that, it shows real intent. A Bridge Between is like floating back to a long lost summer day, travelling down country roads and on your head phones is a song like this. There is simply nothing you can dislike about it, its showers you with happiness and sunlight all the way.

This whole album is like coming home for both Chrissie and I, as most of the songs are on our set that we sing during the summer tourist season, yes even the last one. Time After Time, was originally released by Cindy Lauper back in 1983, this rendition has a beautiful clarity to it and even brings this sad song a happy vibrant feel.

However the biggest round of applause from both of us is for Scarborough Fair, and released in 1968 by Simon and Garfunkel. What dear reader you will not expect is the extended arrangement, giving us a totally amazing extra two minutes. The performance at times almost edges into light progressive rock, the performance on guitar is sublime, and the entire song is now an opus of sheer gifted genius and my favourite track off the release.

There are a few of their own compositions on the album too, like this one called A Thought for You (For Larry). Carbe and Durand give a tip of the hat to an old friend on this piece, it’s light, respectful and a song packed with the energy of the memories of that moment, they even used the actual guitar of Carbe’s former band member (Larry Weber) to add a little spirit to the occasion and have done him proud in the process.

We now go back to another global hit of 1968, a tune that has been used on many TV shows worldwide, Classical Gas, originally released by Michael Mason. Our wonderfully talented musical duo, create a fantastic version of this brilliant song, it has great pace and still retains that awe inspiring energy of the original composition.

From 68, we go further back to 66 and we visit a song that Mick and the boys made famous in that year and one I love to sing called Paint It Black. The tempo here is even faster than the Stones and contains a real Mediterranean feel, which literally powers you along in a burst of supreme vigour and flaming guitars.

The 60’s unleashed some beautiful tracks upon us, non-more so than the Beatles with a really chilled song called Blackbird, here Carbe and Durand pay homage with a performance of great style and class and not only retain the original chilled feel, but add a layer of blue sky in there as well, quite beautiful indeed.

The second half of the album is a continuance of brilliance both on guitar from the duo, but also on the choice of compositions selected, we now move to a classic from 76, by the master blaster himself Stevie Wonder. Isn’t she Lovely was of course a classic pop tune, but Carbe and Durand add a little Latin Jazz styled flavour into the mix and the result is something completely blissful.

A personal favourite of mine coming up next, this one is part of my set and I have loved this song since its release in 1968. Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman is a classic country pop mix that has such a mournful melody. Having been to this part of the world, I can also understand the song better. Carbe and Durand have added an extra flavour, and manifested a supremely original version of a truly brilliant song.

After a little research I have found out that Mountain Song also takes us back in time, in fact some 20 years, whilst it was penned then, it was never released until now, for one I am glad they have, its brilliant, a beautifully paced track that at times reminds me of The Eagles in texture.

Now it’s time for a song from the big chair! Back in 1985 that was the name of the album that Tears for Fears released Everybody Wants to Rule the World from. There is a clever flow to this instrumental arrangement and both Carbe and Durand almost dance with each other on the guitars, to create a fresh melody for us to enjoy.

In 1987 Sting would release an album called Nothing Like The Sun and then go onto release a single called Fragile from it, he would even be seen to be playing an acoustic guitar on the music video. The signature Latin feel is there and one feel’s that if Sting should ever release this again, he should look no further than Carbe and Durand to provide the music for it; this is a quite lovely version.

Now for our last piece and prepare yourself for a surprise, because the dynamic duo will now perform for you an Ozzy Osbourne song called Crazy Train. Yes, I also get some strange looks when I sing this too! However this is a really clever arrangement, and even the most ardent rocker would salute them for this rendition, also, if they would ever like me to roar out the opening,” ALL ABOARD” for them before they perform it, I would be more than happy to oblige.

A Bridge Between is one of those albums that is simply loveable, one can admire the technique, one can be filled with musical memories, but for me there was so much positive energy flowing through my headphones, it literally cheered my mood 10 fold. An album packed with classics and homemade compositions, you will simply miss out on a quite wonderfully fun album, if you don’t get this little gem.

VERITAS VAMPIRUS – APRIL 2016

Liza Carbe looks like a cross between Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, and Maria Muldaur while JP Durand reminds me of James Musser (Underwater Traffic), but their CD isn’t like any of those musicians’ work, instead an almost classical affair, but with a difference: as far as I know, no classical recitations ever featured tracks by Ozzy Osbourne (“Crazy Train”), Tears for Fears (“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” [not me!]), the Stones (“Paint It Black”), and many others – Sting, Mason Williams, Jimmy Webb, etc. – as well as three cuts of their own crafting.

If you’re familiar with the World fusion band Incendio, an top-caliber ensemble on a level with Ancient Future, not to mention a concert dynamo boasting a string of best-selling albums, then you already have a clue, as that’s where Carbe & Durand hail from. Add to that the fact that Liza is a student of Jorge Strunz, one of two blindingly brilliant guitarists composing the untouchably virtuosic Strunz & Farah, and the icing goes straight on top of the luminescent cake. I more than once, however, was reminded of Peter Kraus and Mark Byrd and their Satie for Two Guitars (good luck trying to find that one!), a particularly cherished piece in my huge collection. Carbe and Durand are meticulous in their labors, intimate in their leads and comping.

More than that, the two produced, recorded, and mixed the affair, catching every note and chord in full in a warm atmosphere making one feel as though listening right there in the studio. Do not for a moment, however, imagine any hint of metal or pop-charting here despite the eclectic selections, just heavily Spanish-inflected instrumentals that’d sit well amidst a high society soiree if, that is, the attending bourgeoisie was hip, well read in modern rock, and would not be put off by such whirlwind treatments as “Paint It Black”, cravats, spats, and lace catching fire. Likewise, don’t let A Bridge Between near the louts who frequent bars and know the tunes from jukeboxes; you’ll just wind up gritting your teeth and dumping saltpeter in their drinks. No, invite only sophisticated intimates and have a bottle of chardonnay to hand when you do. Better yet, two or three bottles, and put on some Yepes, some Tarrega, and the aforementioned Strunz & Farah on afterwards. Summer’s coming, time to start getting used to hedonism again.

WORLD’S #1 MUSIC FORUM! – JUNE 2016

CARBE AND DURAND BRIDGE BETWEEN MODERN ACOUSTIC MUSIC AND POP CLASSICS

Carbe and Durand are an acoustic guitar duo — no singing, no other instruments — that completely hold your attention and make music that is extremely pleasant to listen to. Their album is called A Bridge Between and the album cover shows them playing their guitars while sitting on a bridge over a river. If we read into the sub-text you would have to say that they feel as if they are bridging between old-time classic pop or rock material and modern acoustic-guitar picking.

OK, they did write three of the thirteen tunes on this album, but the other ten are pretty much from the 1960s through the 1990s. But do not think of them as a cover band because they are not trying to sound like the originals (how could they with no singing or other instruments?). They have redesigned these melodies so that they work, and work well, with their twin-acoustic-guitar set-up.

There are well thought out and nicely-picked versions of some Sixties compositions like “Wichita Lineman” (Glen Campbell), “Blackbird” (The Beatles), “Classical Gas” (Mason Williams), “Paint It Black” (The Rolling Stones) and “Scarborough Fair” (a traditional but most people are familiar with it from Simon & Garfunkel’s take on it). Then the Seventies are represented with Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” and the Eighties by “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper) and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” (Tears For Fears) and “Crazy Town” (Ozzy Osbourne when Randy Rhodes was with him), and the Nineties get their moment with Sting’s “Fragile.” All three original compositions also should get a shout-out. “Mountain Song” especially fits in, probably because it was written 20 years ago (according the group’s background materials). But “A Thought For You” and “A Bridge Between” also have fine melodic content and solid guitar-picking.

This is an all-around fine recording that would be perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon or your next dinner party (perfect background music that is easy to talk over, but substantial and interesting whenever anyone stops to listen).

ZONE MUSIC REPORTER – MAY 2016

ACOUSTIC GUITARISTS CARBE AND DURAND SHINE ON A BRIDGE BETWEEN RECORDING

Rating: Excellent