Durrant y Ledesma

The harp rose to prominence in the monkish missions of southern South America. In Paraguay, where rural society has survived and with it the culture of the Guarani (once the chief harp-makers), the instrument has received official ‘national’ status. Ismael Ledesma is one of Paraguay's leading harpists and this hook-up with British concert guitarist Richard Durrant is a very accessible and enjoyable intro to his work. The songs are the duo's own, informed by popular South American folk forms such as zamba, the local variety of polka, and the lesser-known, somewhat melancholy guarania – the fourth track is intriguingly titled ‘Guarania para Shoreham’.
There's a slightly corny filmsoundtrack quality to several of the compositions, however, the sort of light classical, highbrow type of folk you might expect from a Mark Knopfler or a John Williams score. Still, Durrant is a specialist in the music of Agustín Barrios, Paraguay's most celebrated guitar virtuoso, and his intricate fretwork is precise, warm and not showy. Ledesma's picking is suitably angelic when that's called for, but he can pluck that harp with passion and raw power, too. A mellow take on the music of Paraguay is a rare thing – as is a South American ode to a Sussex beach resort. All of which makes this album worthy of a spin or two.