Album Reviews

Considering Jukebox The Ghost's jaunty, piano-led brand of college rock, it's no surprise to hear they spent much of 2009 on tour with Ben Folds. Sadly, Let Live & Let Ghosts often seems an inferior version of

the North Carolinian key-basher. However, while the three-piece lack Folds' witty lyricism, there is plenty of energy and, on songs such as Victoria and Lighting Myself On Fire, a real sense of drama. But it will take more than that to lift them out of the shadow of their influences. AW

New Young Pony Club: The Optimist (The Numbers B0036BDQEW) (11.99)

In 2007, New Young Pony Club looked like they were ready and willing to take on the UK charts with their blend of new wave-indie pop. Talk of them being the next big thing never quite came to pass, but they return with a corker. They start with Lost A Girl, which highlights how far they have distanced themselves away from the New Rave scene and, instead, they focus on quality tunes. This probably won't reach the top of the charts, but then again, that's probably not what they're aiming for. PW

Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Fitzgerald Live at the Opera House (Poll Winners Records) (9.99)

Brilliant. It's Ella at the height of her powers, caught live with an all-star Jazz at The Philharmonic troupe, charging through a programme with peerless invention and energy. Oscar Peterson is on hand as accompanist as Ella delivers a programme of standards with wonderful assurance, but the real thrills come when she cuts loose on two versions of Stompin' at the Savoy and How High The Moon. Some of the best singing she ever put on record, and an essential buy. AV

Meeting Point: Quintessence (Challenge) (12.99)

Meeting Point is a fiery hard-bop quintet head by the very fine tenorman, Eric Alexander, which delivers an assured, inventive and satisfying CD. Alexander's familiar cohort, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, is an excellent front-line partner, and the group with pianist Andrei Kondakov, bassist Dmitri Kolesnik and drummer Lenny White, emits the sort of feel and energy that Art Blakey's bands used to generate. Alexander is on fine form, his solo on the opening Secret Mission setting the agenda for everything that follows. AV

Massenet: Don Quichotte EMI 3 09100 2 (2 CDs) (17.99)

Surely this has the most sad ending to any opera, as Massenet brings down the curtain on a tender portrait of that great and foolish knight, Don Quixote. The smooth and sombre quality of Jose van Dam's voice completely typifies the old man and his love for the young Dulcinee, sung by Teresa Berganza. Alain Fondary chooses not to sound too obeisant to his master as Sancho Panza, with a nice cameo from Nicolas Rivenq as Juan. Exemplary and typically French playing from the Toulouse orchestra, with Michel Plasson conducting. DD

Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera Sony 88697581322 (2 CDs) (13.99)

More than 40 years ago, I first reviewed this recording, and it has remained, by a large margin, my top recommendation. It is not simply that Leontyne Price and Carlo Bergonzi are superb in the major roles, but all 10 soloists were top-ranking singers and included Shirley Verrett, Robert Merrill, and the incomparable Reri Grist in the role of Oscar. On the podium, Erich Leinsdorf drives his forces forward at white-heat intensity, the RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra and Chorus pumping impact into the score. The sound is thrilling. DD