British composer
Will Todd
has experimented in the past with fusions of jazz and classical choral music in an accessible British vein, and has formed his own
Will Todd Ensemble
to further his work along these lines. This release represents his latest thinking on the subject, with a pair of large jazz-influenced works surrounded by shorter pieces, in English and Latin, in a more conventional tonal vein. The two jazz works differ from each other, and this is a good thing:
Todd
seems to be experimenting with new ways of thinking about the relationship between jazz and classical choral styles. The
Jazz Missa Brevis
is straightforward, with simple jazz harmonies set to broadly appealing choral lines in a variety of common jazz and pop rhythms that may bring
Godspell
to mind for listeners of a certain age. The
Passion Music
that opens the album is something different, incorporating the singing of a gospel soloist, soprano
Shaneeka Simon
, passages of more dissonant harmony sprinkled through the music, and a bracingly original choice of texts. Sample "The Seven Last Words from the Cross." The
St. Martin's Voices
thankfully do not try to mimic an African-American accent, and
Simon
even pushes her diction just a bit in the direction of standard pronunciation: she devises a mixture that fits the music, and it's very effective. Definitely recommended for those interested in what used to be called the Third Stream jazz. ~ James Manheim