Hugo Guezbar & Fanou Torracinta – Guitare de Notre Monde

There are quite a few acoustic guitar duos out there, and not just in the gypsy jazz style: Sylvain Luc & Biréli Lagrène, Romane & Stochelo Rosenberg…

It’s no surprise, then, that two young virtuosos have decided to give it a try. The former is in his twenties and the latter is barely thirty, and both hail from the south of France: Montpellier for Hugo Guezbar and Corsica for Fanou Torracinta.

We’re already quite familiar with the latter, who has recorded several albums showcasing his island roots. Listening to the younger of the two, however, will undoubtedly be a discovery for many listeners since—unless I’m mistaken—he appears only as a guest on Hugo Lippi’s latest album (reviewed right here), and Lippi can’t say enough good things about him.

Two young prodigies, then, but they aren’t here to show off their technical skills—even though those are evident in the fast-paced tracks. No, this is a collaboration between two musicians who know and appreciate each other and who have naturally found common musical ground where a love of beautiful melody takes precedence over virtuosity.

The repertoire, which is stylistically diverse, naturally features themes linked to Django, but also includes an inspired version of Bill Evans’ Waltz for Debbie the time-honored standard Old Man River—of which they offer an unexpected version—, Brazilian melodies and a remarkable rendition of Alex North’s Love Theme from Spartacus.

It’s a beautiful journey through contrasting landscapes, where the beauty of the guitar sounds delights us with their enchanting melodic lines and sumptuous chords and arpeggios.

While this album will easily win over guitar enthusiasts, it should also appeal to all fans of beautiful music, as the talent of these two musicians exudes sincerity and reveals their first-rate inspiration.