The Spirit Level

The chamber music on this recording was likely composed during the time Jenkins was living in the homes of the Dereham and L’Estrange families. Where Lawes 'music is often edgy and bizarre in character, Jenkins' compositions from this period are clearly intended to counterbalance the uncertain and risky circumstances that prevailed during the turbulent years of the Civil War. It's not for nothing that Andrew Ashbee, the great English Jenkins connoisseur, titled his book “The Harmonious Musick of John Jenkins”.

Tallis Scholars are among the world's preeminent choral ensembles. Cultivating a distinctive vocal sound backed by impeccable scholarship, the group has helped raise the general level of interest in Renaissance choral music in Britain and beyond through a large catalog of recordings and numerous international tours.

With a small jazz scene to recruit from, and no funding in the early years, Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith has turned his country's national jazz orchestra into a world-class outfit. This Duke Ellington-dedicated recording, captured on the road, ostensibly represents the band in a more conservative, classic-repertory guise (they're just as adept at contemporary music or original material). But it's an exhilarating re-enactment of Ellington's gigs, right down to the stage setup, and a spontaneous celebration rather than a routine run-through of famous material. Smith got his players to memorise many of the parts so they could bounce off Ellington's directions without anxious glances at the map. Moreover, Smith decided to select music from Ellington's and Billy Strayhorn's canon from the 1920s to the 50s…