Album Reviews

Pope's latest outing is an exhilarating affair in which he brings together a fine group for energetic workouts on original material. Excellent players including saxophonists James Carter and Walter Blanding, along with trumpeters Terell Stafford and David Weiss jump on the likes of To The Roach and Little Miss Lady and play with tremendous energy, fuelled by a rhythm section headed by powerhouse drummer Jeff Watts. Pope himself mostly sticks to quiet duets, which thoughtful though they are, lack the impact of the group numbers. AV

Gerry Mulligan: Gerry Mulligan meets Johnny Hodges (American Jazz Classics) 9.99

The great baritone saxophonist made a delicious series of records in the late '50s that partnered him with other stellar saxophonists, and this reissues one of the best of them. Johnny Hodges was Duke Ellington's star soloist, and the contrast between his sinuous alto playing and Mulligan's gruff mischievousness makes for wonderful listening on a series of originals. It's brilliant stuff, complemented by the addition of an excellent Mulligan quartet album to the original programme. AV

Holmboe: Complete String Quartets (Dacapo 8.207001 (7CDs) 22.99

The string quartets of the Danish composer, Vagn Holmboe, stand beside those of Shostakovich as outstanding works from the second half of the 20th century. Stylistically covering much the same ground, Holmboe's 20 numbered scores were spread through almost 50 years. Often hard-hitting and acerbic, their refreshing musical language gripped my attention throughout, their oft complex structure was superbly handled by the Kontra Quartet. Seven discs for the price of two, this boxed set is a bargain. DD

Alwyn: Chamber Music (Naxos 8.572425) 5.99

Dip into this disc of William Alwyn at any point and discover readily attractive music. Wedded to a melodic idiom, the sprightly Clarinet Sonata offers a happy opening, while the bubbling finale of the Oboe Sonata has naughty French inclinations. The creamy Viola Sonatina; a String Trio with some modernisms, and Conversations for violin, clarinet and piano, is surely one of the most intensely beautiful 20th-century scores. Soloists include the clarinet of Robert Plane, and pianist Sophia Rahman. A fabulous release. DD