CLASSICAL

INSPIRED BY BACH

NIMBUS Cellist Julius Berger has a theory that references to Bach are implicit in Brahms’ Sonata in E minor for cello and piano, and in Beethoven’s A major and Max Reger’s A minor sonatas. They form the central points respectively of each of the discs in this intriguing 2-CD package, both of which feature music by Bach, himself, in a variety of arrangements, most notably by Kodaly. It is, in effect, a recital in two halves, a

ROBERT GLASPER: COVERED

BLUE NOTE RECORDS HHHH The American pianist has been concentrating on electronic keyboards and his crossover mix of R’N’B and hip-hop for the past few years, but returns to acoustic piano trio for this outing with the two longstanding associates he will bring to the Edinburgh International Festival in August, bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Damion Reid.

Glasper opted for a collection of cover versions for this return, but it is a characteristically non-standard choice of music, the exception being a somewhat deconstructed reading of Stella By Starlight. Otherwise, the trio brings a distinctly contemporary stylistic focus to tunes by Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, John Legend and Musiq Soulchild, among others, and a couple of Glasper’s own tunes, including a playful extended take on In Case You Forgot. The set concludes with two tunes featuring spoken word, focusing on social and racial issues. KENNY MATHIESON