Mary Katherine Letourneau

There are clearly a few soul points of reference on Sweetest Thing, a ten-track album from Nova Scotia-born artist Katherine Penfold. There are notes of '90s neo-soul, the classic R&B of a couple decades prior and slices of funk and jazz sprinkled in between. Penfold's bright vocals have a clear quality and maintain integrity through the various vocal runs she lands over the course of the proceedings. Penfold has a hands-on approach to music making: she co-produced the project with David Sikula, literally built her recording studio from scratch and brings along the expertise of folks like soprano Amber Navran of Moonchild, and producers like Eye 3 Brandon and Chin Injeti to ensure a savoury feel to Sweetest Thing.

There are clearly a few soul points of reference on Sweetest Thing, a ten-track album from Nova Scotia-born artist Katherine Penfold. There are notes of '90s neo-soul, the classic R&B of a couple decades prior and slices of funk and jazz sprinkled in between. Penfold's bright vocals have a clear quality and maintain integrity through the various vocal runs she lands over the course of the proceedings. Penfold has a hands-on approach to music making: she co-produced the project with David Sikula, literally built her recording studio from scratch and brings along the expertise of folks like soprano Amber Navran of Moonchild, and producers like Eye 3 Brandon and Chin Injeti to ensure a savoury feel to Sweetest Thing.

Music can enrich and enhance the cinematic spectacle of some of movie historys greatest moments, and sometimes the music has a life of its own, beyond the confines of the silver screen. This collection from Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins brings together her most popular tributes to some of the greatest film themes and composers from some of the most popular movies of all time, including her interpretations of Everything I Do (I Do It For You) famous as the theme from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and I Will Always Love You made famous by its use in The Bodyguard.

Songs of Inspiration, Hope and Strength A collection of songs in which to find meaning and inspiration. Includes the single Jealous of the Angels, Josh Groban’s To Where you Are, hymns Make Me A Channel of your Peace and Morning Has Broken (with Bryn Terfel). Also includes a moving cover of Stormzy’s Blinded By Your Grace which features Katherine’s Daughter Aaliyah and The Greatest Showman’s Never Enough.

Songs of Inspiration, Hope and Strength A collection of songs in which to find meaning and inspiration. Includes the single Jealous of the Angels, Josh Groban’s To Where you Are, hymns Make Me A Channel of your Peace and Morning Has Broken (with Bryn Terfel). Also includes a moving cover of Stormzy’s Blinded By Your Grace which features Katherine’s Daughter Aaliyah and The Greatest Showman’s Never Enough.

Among the young British instrumentalists vying to pick up the mantles of the great soloists of a generation ago, flutist Katherine Bryan seems among the most promising, and she takes a major step forward with this, her second release. Her startlingly clear, bright articulation in the upper register is pleasing on its own, yet the real attraction here is that she approaches a repertory intelligently and brings fresh perspectives to it. The Flute Concerto (1993) of Christopher Rouse only seems to be the odd item in the set; Rouse's instrumental writing, with its intricate grasp of texture and register, is truly a descendant of the French (and French-Swiss) music on the rest of the album, and it was an inspired choice in terms of showcasing Bryan's technique as well. The three central movements have a memorial tone, with flute solos woven into Rouse's characteristically spacious chords, and Bryan has the stamina to stick with the long line here. Ibert's delightful Concerto for flute and orchestra (1934) receives an absolutely crackling performance from Bryan.