Dormant Beauty

John Jenkins: yet another seventeenth century English composer who deserves to be more widely known. This delightful CD from The Consort of Musicke directed by Trevor Jones is no dutiful study of a hidden but rather uninspiring corner of English early Baroque consort music; rather, a mosaic – rich in color and shape, carefully crafted and full of surprises. Listen, for instance, to the unpretentious, jaunty and appropriately figurative progress through the Saraband (52, tr.6) and the restrained melancholy of the Fancy-Air (4, tr.7). Jenkins' counterpoint is well-wrought, his instrumental palette fresh and crisp and his melodies catchy without being fey or superficial in any way. He is in excellent hands with the Consort of Musicke… eight string players of the caliber of Monica Huggett and Alison Crum violins; Alan Wilson organ and Anthony Rooley theorbo. If fresh, beautiful, expertly-played English consort music appeals to you, don't hesitate to get this gem of a CD – actually a reissue of a Decca disc from 1983: it's unreservedly recommended.

Collection includes: The End of the Ring Wars (1998); Mare Vitalis (2000); Low Level Owl, Vol. 1 (2001); Low Level Owl, Vol. 2 (2001); Lost Songs (2002); Two Conversations (2003); Peregrine (2006); Sagarmatha (2009); Middle States EP (2011); Illumination Ritual (2013).

When we are brothers, we can hardly speak of reunion. Especially since Lionel and Stéphane Belmondo have regularly met in the studio to engrave their conversations in wax, to give a snapshot of their life… Their Belmondo Quintet which they founded in 1993 is one of the most shining Rolls of the world. hexagonal jazz. A kind of endearing club that brings the tradition of cool jazz to life like that of post bop and hard bop with virtuosity, and nourishes it with a thousand influences.