In the artistic lineage of Latin guitarists there are few who can expertly tread the line between popular and serious music. Jorge Morel is one of these rare exceptions. 'Meet Morel' introduces the young guitarist in diverse roles – one side devoted to solo voicings, the other to ensemble interplay. Whether the music concerns classical pieces arranged for solo performance, or demonstrations of facile ensemble rapport, one finds the Morel guitar always charming and tasteful. His manual dexterity and tuneful stylings were perfected after many years of study in his native Buenos Aires, which included a Ph. D. in Music from the Argentine Academy of Advanced Music. Jorge has won accolades in the capitals of Latin America in live concert, television and motion picture appearances before arriving in the States. He records for the Decca label. An international flavouring envelops the ensemble efforts as the side opens with the pastoral simplicity of MacDowell’s To A Wild Rose, melodically explored by guitar leas, flute echoes and rhythm backing. Brasileando next, is a Morel original that captures the lark-happy atmosphere of carnival time in the rhythm of the choro – a sort of samba-like beat. Then, Jorge’s guitar and the Alberto Socarras flute express the competing themes of Joropo, an exotic Venezuelan dance based on calypso variations. Following that, Marco Rizo’s piano joins guitar and flute in relating the sensitive interpretation of true love as depicted by the old English ballad of Barbara Allen. Then, it’s an upbeat Morel guitar that roams, with captivation rhythm accompaniment, through Danza, the colourful folk dance indigenous to Puerto Rico. The ensemble set concludes with a paso doble as Jorge’s guitar escorts us through the palmfringed streets of Cadiz, the historic Spanish port city that served as the site of many ferocious battles. For his solo guitar stints Jorge warms up with his own composition, Guitarreando, a compelling, perpetual motion showpiece that displays his technical artistry. In Tango of Love, which follows, he combines the emotional flavour of an Italian melody with the sensuous Latin temperament. The next three are Chopin tunes in guitar stylings. Waltz OP.69, No.2 is a graceful but powerful interpretation that mirrors the composer’s brooding sentiment for his native land. Prelude No.20 becomes a picturesque study in the color and shading of guitar dynamics, and the Prelude No.7 is a contrast of emotional tenderness and dramatic intensity. The mood changes in the concluding selection, as Jorge’s guitar provides a cheerful setting for the Schubert piano miniature, Moment Musicale No.3.