TINGSTAD AND RUMBEL; "Leap of Faith" (Cheshire Records) ★★★

Grammy Award-winning contemporary instrumental duo guitarist Eric Tingstad and wind instrumentalist Nancy Rumbel have left their comfort zone with their new and aptly titled CD, "Leap of Faith."

The duo's trademark guitar and wind style on their 19th album has been underscored with more pronounced musical textures and straight-forward percussion. And that only adds to the dimension of the CD's music, which is a collection of originals and covers.

The originals include the cheery title track, the Latin-groove of "Zacatecas," the spry island rhythm of "Sweet Potato," which features Tingstad's note-bending steel slide and Rumbel's spotlighted ocarina, and the Native American-flavored "Medicine Tree."

Those songs stand alongside insightful covers of the Gershwins' "Summertime," Bob Willis' "San Antonio Rose," the late Roy Rogers' "Happy Trails," which was, of course originally written by Rogers' late wife, Dale, Jerry Bock's "To Life" and Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia on My Mind," made famous by the late Ray Charles.

Two more covers include Tingstad and Rumbel's remakes of Asian folk songs. "Spring Maiden," a contemplative Korean number, and the equally touching "Chinese Lullaby," which the duo recorded on the Grammy Award-winning "Acoustic Garden" as "Clear Moon, Quiet Wind."

With each CD, Tingstad and Rumbel expand their musical vision.

E-mail: scott@desnews.com