Album Reviews

Kole is a singer to watch, a classy interpreter of quality material who plainly has some stellar musical admirers given the company she keeps on this programme of duets. Pianists of the calibre of Dave Brubeck, Monty Alexander, Hank Jones, Michel Legrand and Benny Green are her accompanists here, and her performances of songs, including If I Had You, But Beautiful, Two For the Road and the fiendishly difficult Lush Life, are spot-on. She doesn't scat, preferring a plain approach, but she's an enticing singer of a lyric. AV

Clark Terry: Shades of Blues (Challenge) 12.99

Here's a reissue of a very fine record from 1994, in which the veteran trumpet and flugelhorn player is joined by a very simpatico partner, trombonist Al Grey. It does what it says on the tin, Terry and Grey plainly having fun on a programme of blues in the company of pianist Charles Fox and bassist Marcus McLaurine. Both principals had a fondness for using mutes and injecting a note of sly wit into their performances, and those qualities are well to the fore. Elegance and subtle swing make these performances glow. AV

Mozart: Die Zauberflote (Harmonia Mundi 902068.70) (3CDs) 26.99

Never on disc have I heard this strange love story so vibrantly brought to life. Using a stage atmosphere, the acting in the linking dialogue is superb, and voices perfectly related to characters. Marlis Petersen, as Pamina, delights with her silvery soprano, her lover, Tamino, given to the beautiful lyric voice of Daniel Behle. Daniel Schmutzhard is a charming Papageno, but it is the inspirational conducting of Rene Jacobs and his period instrument orchestra that makes the release so very special. Fabulous. DD

Bloch: From Jewish Life (Praga PRD 250271) 13.99

Sadness, yearning and anguish, Ernest Bloch's music tells of a nation that has lost its homeland. Most persuasive advocates in the eloquence of Michal Kanka, cellist of the famous Prazak Quartet, his singing tone speaking of heartache in the disc's major works, From Jewish Life, the prophetic Voice in the Wilderness and a Meditation Hebraique burdened with sorrow. Miguel Borges Coelho, is the admirable pianist. DD