Album Reviews

A new label for the great eclectic of contemporary jazz, and another step in his exploration of how disparate genres can be fused into an intensely personal vision. This finds Frisell in stripped-down musical mode, with just drummer Rudy Royston and viola player Eyvind Kang for company as he draws jazz, rock, folk and Americana together. Frisell's guitar work, as ever, is stunningly inventive, and his reimaginings of familiar material bordering on the startlingly original. It's another winner from Frisell. AV

Steve Davis: Eloquence (Jazz Legacy Productions) 12.99.

Davis, a very fine trombonist for all seasons, has delivered a highly enjoyable mainstream session here, even if he is comprehensively upstaged by his guest stars. Veteran pianist Hank Jones is on utterly magisterial form throughout, his solos statesmanlike and perfectly judged, and trumpeter Roy Hargrove offers his best on record for several years, with bright and bubbling solos. Davis himself, on a clutch of good standards is fluid and eloquent, but does end up sounding like a bystander on his own record. AV

Bach, St John Passion. Yorkshire Baroque Soloists: Signum Classics, SIG 0209. 14.99.

York University's reputation for music grows by the year and listening to this CD it's not hard to discern why. Prof Peter Seymour,

who founded the Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, is a scholar whose keen eye for performance practice is demonstrated in this impressive recording. Its pared-down forces, raw textures and strong rhythmic life – chorales are fleet – only serve to tighten the drama. Fine solo contributions come from Charles Daniels, Stephen Varcoe and Stephan Loges. RC

Olivier Messiaen: Livre du Saint Sacrement, Paul Jacobs. Naxos,

8.572436-37, 8.99.

Written in 1984, this was Messiaen's last and longest organ work, though the American, Paul Jacobs, seems to get through it more swiftly than many other recitalists. He is a musician of enviable technique yet his recording is less memorable than those by Michael Bonaventure or Gillian Weir. The organ in St Mary the Virgin, New York City, supplies most of the requisite colour but Mr Jacobs seems reluctant to allow the music space to flow, grow and resonate. RC