Album Reviews

Cowley's one of our brightest young stars, and this excellent new CD serves notice that he's found a plausible blend of jazz and rock that reaches out to a younger audience. He's a powerful pianist with plenty of imagination, and in tandem with bassist Richard Sadler and drummer Evan Jenkins, delivers percussive performances of well-crafted originals. The themes are hooky and engaging, on both driving numbers and floating ballads. There is a high degree of interplay within the trio, and commendable energy. AV

Johnny Hodges: The Big Sound (Poll Winners Records) (9.99)

It's easily 25 years since this gem of a session from 1957 was last issued, and it's good to have it back. Here is Ellington's great altoman at the head of the orchestra and smaller groups drawn from it for a programme of bluesy originals that showcase both his mastery of ballads and infectious sense of swing. Hodges is joined by other stellar soloists including trumpeter Clark Terry and clarinettist Jimmy Hamilton. The CD adds an additional session by Hodges from the same period which is hardly less good. AV

Rachmaninov: Symphony No 2 (LSO Live, SACD LSO0677) (8.99)

As you would expect with the charismatic Valery Gergiev on the conductor's platform, this performance of Rachmaninov's opulent symphony is full of long sweeping gestures, at times a little moody, but packed full of the feel of spontaneity that comes from a "live" recording. He allows the slow movement ample time to beguile the ears and turns up the heat for an exciting finale. The London Symphony respond perfectly to his many subtle rhythmic infections, the playing in the superlative class. Good sound generous in detail. DD

Mahler: Symphony No 2 (Tudor 7158, 2 CDs) (13.99)

Even among the most highly charged and dramatic accounts of the "Resurrection" symphony on CD, this new release from the inspirational young conductor, Jonathan Nott, is a whole new experience. The sheer impact and virtuosity of his Bamberg Orchestra is quite remarkable, and in Anne Schwanewilms and Lioba Braun he has two gorgeous voices that ride easily over the orchestra's magnificent chorus. The enormous dynamic range is captured by the engineers in one of the most sensational sonic events I have yet encountered. DD